The UBC Forest Products Biotechnology/ Bioenergy (FPB/B) group has been working on, what is termed “the biorefinery concept”, to make renewable, low-carbon fuels and chemicals from biomass feedstock via an enzyme-mediated biochemical approach.
The UBC Forest Products Biotechnology/Bioenergy (FPB/B) group has been working on, what is termed “the biorefinery concept”, to make renewable, low-carbon fuels and chemicals from biomass feedstock via an enzyme-mediated biochemical approach. For example, how do we decarbonize the marine and aviation sectors? CFI has helped us establish a Process Development Unit (PDU) that incudes pilot scale pretreatment equipment (steam gun, digester, etc.), fractionation apparatus and fermentation facilities. Pretreatment is used to “open-up” biomass (to facilitate enzyme-mediated deconstruction) as well as increasing the robustness of biomass pellets (to increase their durability and transportation). This process can be readily scaled up and widely recognized as an economical approach. The pilot-scale fermentation facilities are used to both produce enzymes and ferment biomass-derived sugars to a range of fuels and chemicals. The recent CFI grant added much needed equipment (e.g. ultra-fine friction grinder, microfluidizer) that will be key components of biorefineries and aiding in the decarbonisation of the “hard to electrify” transportation sector.
Contact: Dr. Jack Saddler, Project Lead.