Biofine Technology has developed and is at the point of commercializing a biorefining technology for
conversion of lignocellulosic wastes to products with huge and valuable markets. The Biofine process is a
carbon negative refining process that allows valorization of all fractions of the feedstock: The cellulose
fraction is converted in excellent yield into levulinic and formic acids. Levulinic acid is combined with ethanol
to produce the ester, ethyl levulinate, a clean burning fuel replacement for gasoline, diesel or heating oil.
Formic acid is separated and converted to its sodium or calcium salt resulting in compounds with large
commodity markets such as non-corrosive deicing treatments, animal feed conditioners and concrete
additives. The lignin fraction is converted via a light pyrolysis step into a stable sequestered carbon
biochar suitable for soil amendment or cementitious building materials. The hemicellulose fraction is
converted to the versatile commodity chemical, furfural. The thermo-catalytic reactions also produce a
humic carbonaceous residue (“Humin”) that is readily incorporated into the lignin fraction for pyrolysis.
The process overall is significantly carbon-negative in that the carbon dioxide emissions avoidance by
diversion of the cellulosic feedstock combined with displacement of fossil feedstocks exceeds the carbon
dioxide emissions from manufacturing and combustion of the liquid fuel product. The beneficial effect on
atmospheric carbon dioxide level of this carbon-negative wood refining technique is dramatic: Widespread
adoption of this technology over the next 30 years has the potential to avoid and sequester a huge amount
of atmospheric carbon and form the cornerstone of a systematic greenhouse gas reduction program. Co-benefits
include rejuvenation of rural communities, incentivization of proper forest management
programs to prevent wildfires and avoidance of infrastructure degradation by use of an alternative deicer
material.
