by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Another step towards commercial scale, aimed at “secure supply” of cellulose-lignin solids for Renmatix’ Georgia facility
Renmatix announced that it has acquired existing assets of the former Mascoma corporation’s 56,000 square foot manufacturing facility in Rome, NY. The new Feedstock Processing Facility (FPF) is dedicated to the first step in conversion to cellulosic sugar (from different types of biomass materials) utilizing proprietary Plantrose process conditions. This move creates a secure supply for Renmatix and its development partners at the IPC in Kennesaw, GA., where the second step in production of Plantro sugars is performed.
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In a nutshell, this is what the Renmatix process does. In step one, biomass is mixed with water to make a slurry, and in a less harsh environment the C5 sugars (hemicellulose) are separated out through hydrolysis. After you separate the solids from the liquids, you have a liquid C5 sugar stream and a solid fraction consisting of cellulose and lignin.
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The company’s “secret sauce” is its signature second-step, in which supercritial water, under high pressure, is used to separate the residual lignin from the cellulose, to create a lignin product and a liquid C6 sugar stream. READ MORE