by Erin Voegele (Ethanol Producer Magazine) Golden, Colo.-based GeoSynFuels LLC has acquired the cellulosic demonstration facility formerly owned and operated by Blue Sugars Corp., the parent company of Western Biomass Energy LLC. GSF plans to retrofit the plant to use its proprietary 5CS Technology.
The Upton, Wyo.-based demonstration plant was offered for sale at auction in May 2013, after Western Biomass Energy filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in October 2012 and Blue Sugars filed a voluntary Chapter 7 petition on May 10. Western Biomass Energy’s filing was eventually converted to Chapter 7 as well.
…
“The acquisition of the demonstration facility is an important step forward in the commercialization of our cellulosic ethanol technology. This acquisition was challenging but worth the effort given the strategic advantages this plant provides GeoSynFuels. We are very excited about entering this next stage of our technology development,” Harvey said.
According to Harvey, his company plans to leave the facility in place in Upton. …
Most cellulosic technologies convert both the five-carbon and six-carbon sugars into fuel, leaving behind the lignin for either disposal or combustion. “We only take the five-carbon sugars, and we leave the cellulose and lignin available for either combustion or for use as an alternative product,” Harvey said. …
The 5CS Technology is designed to be a bolt-on solution for operations with existing biomass combustion facilities, such as sugar mills, pulp mills and biomass energy facilities. … Some feedstocks targeted by the company include woody biomass, bagasse, and eucalyptus. Testing has also been completed on other feedstocks, including wheat straw, rice straw, and municipal solid waste. READ MORE
