History
Since 1992, PureVision has researched, analyzed, tested and developed technologies for converting cellulosic biomass into sugars, fiber, lignin, ethanol and other products. During 1993 and 1994, the company began to focus on a biorefinery for converting waste paper to sugar and ethanol. PureVision initially targeted the postal industry because of the huge amount of paper wastes that can be used to produce ethanol to fuel the postal fleet. In 1996, PureVision was awarded a contract from the U.S. Postal Service to conduct an investigative study on converting postal wastes into ethanol.Also in 1996, the company began developing a relationship with the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) in Golden, Colorado. This led to a cooperative research effort that investigated the economic and physical parameters involved in operating a large-scale waste paper-to-ethanol plant using the PureVision biorefining technology. A well-developed computerized model was used to obtain the results of this research effort.
During 1999, PureVision's Chief Scientist Dr. Dick Wingerson developed the company's biomass fractionation technology with a focus on producing a purified cellulose stream from biomass. After lab-scale proof-of-concept testing, PureVision applied for and subsequently received a process patent regarding the unique countercurrent process that removes hemicellulose, lignin and other biomass components from the cellulose.
During 2001, PureVision began working with Western Research Institute in Laramie, Wyoming to undertake bench-scale tests using second- and third-generation batch fractionation reactors, which led to designing and building a continuous fractionation reactor.
From January 2002 to the present, PureVision has received six research and development grants from the U.S. Department of Energy, the National Science Foundation and the State of Colorado. The most recent effort has focused on the rapid conversion of biomass into sugars without the use of enzymes or concentrated acids. With funding provided by friends and family, employees, government grants and industrial clients, PureVision now carries out fractionation and rapid hydrolysis testing at the bench and half-ton per day scales with a focus on scaling up to a 20-ton per day, fully-integrated cellulosic biorefining facility expected to break ground during the 4th quarter of 2011.