CRB Innovations makes a breakthrough in fractionation technology by producing low cost fermentable sugars at its demonstration facility

WESTBURY, QC, May 17, 2018 /CNW Telbec/ - The demonstration (DEMO) project entitled "Integrated Biorefinery" conceived, led and completed by CRB Innovations (CRB) has reached its main objective. The sugars prepared by CRB in its Westbury Demo facility (capacity of 3.6 tonnes/day, of wood, dry basis, as input) have been fermented by GreenField Global in the installations adjacent to their commercial corn Ethanol plant at Varennes, QC, Canada; 7000 L of ethanolic beer at 3.7 % (w/v) have been produced. The CRB sugars have been derived from coniferous residues from the Eastern Townships using the FIRSST deconstruction and hydrolytic fractionation technology developed by CRB.

This breakthrough in fractionation technology will allow CRB to position itself in the preparation of biogenic intermediates valorized in existing or new finishing hubs, according to CRB sources. The company is thrilled to have reached its main objective and would like to thank its technological and financial partners as well as Dr. Hassan Zahedi-Niaki, Head of Process Design & Engineering and DEMO Project Manager at CRB, and the members of te team that has carried out the work and provided the deliverables of the DEMO project.

Other than GreenField Global, additional partners of the DEMO project are: Enerkem (valorization of the process residues), the Institut de recherche en électricité du Québec (membrane-and electro-technologies), the Chaire de recherche industrielle sur l'éthanol cellulosique et les biocommodités de l'Université de Sherbrooke (depolymerization of cellulose) as well as Natural Resources Canada and the Canada Centre for Mineral and Energy Technology (catalytic hydrogenation of lignin-derived oligomers to bionaphta and biokerosene).

The project has also demonstrated that the "hub and spoke" approach (regional satellite plants producing intermediates upgraded and valorized in finishing plants) is a valuable technological, economic and socio-environmental strategy. Beyond the ethanolic fermentation, the project has also proven the feasibility of the C5 & C6 conversions to valuable furan-derived compounds and the conversion of lignin into bio-naphta and bio-kerosene as well as specialty oxy-aromatic monomers.

The project has been co-funded by the above-mentioned partners, by Sustainable Development Technology Canada (SDTC) and the ministère de l'Énergie et des Ressources naturelles du Québec (MERN) along with the Fonds Vert, Québec

About CRB
CRB is a private company whose technological platform is the deconstruction and fractionation of quasi-homogeneous biomass into homogenous intermediates. The strategy pursued by the company is the "hub & spoke" approach: regional satellite plants produce intermediates that are upgraded to marketable products in finishing plants, the hubs, where economies of scale are reached. Headquartered in Sherbrooke, the company owns a demonstration plant located in Westbury. Products are: cellulosic sugars, cellulose, furan-derivatives, lignin-derivatives and clean process residues. The latter can be favorably used in thermochemical conversion platforms.

About SDTC
Sustainable Development Technology Canada (SDTC) is an arm's-length foundation created by the Government of Canada to promote sustainable development, and support projects that develop and demonstrate new technologies to address issues related to climate change, air quality, and clean water and soil. SDTC invests in Canadian companies that, through their innovative technologies, contribute positively to Canada by creating quality jobs, driving economic growth and protecting the environment.

www.crbinnovations.com

SOURCE CRB Innovations Inc.

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