PDU development and operation
From 2002 through early 2004, PureVision undertook pre-pilot testing
of the fractionation technology at the Western Research Institute using
bench-scale equipment. In addition to using corn stover as a feedstock,
studies involving cattle manure and wheat straw were initiated. With
successful results at bench-scale and using a third-party’s continuous
pilot plant, procurement of a process development
unit
(PDU) to fully execute continuous, counterflow processing at up to 10
kg/hour (dry weight) has been completed by PureVision. The
PDU is currently being used to optimize the conditions for processing
corn stover and other biomass feedstocks using the PureVision fractionation
technology.
Preliminary Design of PureVision Biorefineries.
PureVision has begun working on a biomass
research and development project, “Generating Process and Economic
Data for Preliminary Design of PureVision Biorefineries”. The
$1.468 million U.S. government research award to PureVision in 2005
is being managed by the Department of Energy (DOE) Golden, Colorado
office. PureVision recieved additional funding
to continue the program in 2006. The principal objective of
the PureVision project is to demonstrate the reactive fractionation
technology as a new process technology for converting biomass into
sugars and for recovering and utilizing other biomass components from
wash liquor streams. PureVision and consortium member Hazen Research,
Inc. (Golden, CO) have initiated the program using corn stover as the
first feedstock. Once initial project milestones have been achieved,
additional feedstocks will be processed and evaluated. Other PureVision
consortium members for this project include Membrane Technology and
Research (Menlo Park, CA), ENTEK Extruders (Lebanon, OR), The Harris
Group, Inc. (Seattle, WA), the University of Utah (Salt Lake City,
UT), Auburn University’s Pulp and Paper Research and Education
Center (Auburn University, AL), Membrane Applied Science and Technology
Center (MAST at the University of Colorado), Louisiana State University
(Baton Rouge, LA), M.A. Patout & Sons (Louisiana), and the National
Renewable Energy Laboratory (Golden, Colorado). This 17-month project
seeks to lay the foundation for commercial collaborations for advancing
sustainable agricultural practices and rural biorefineries.
Demonstration of the PureVision Wood Biorefinery
During 2005, PureVision began working on a U.S. Department of Energy-funded
grant with International Paper Company (IP). The project will scale-up
the PureVision process for pulping loblolly pine. The primary objective
of the PureVision project is to demonstrate an alternative to the
Kraft pulping process for the forest products industries.
PureVision is now in the final quarter of the Wood Biorefinery project.
The U.S. Department of Energy Office of Renewable Energy has published
a brochure about the expected benefits and advantages of this project.
View
the brochure on the U.S. DoE Industrial Technology Programs website
[PDF].
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PDF
Brochure
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Recovering Fiber from Wheat Straw
With a Phase I SBIR grant award
from the National Science Foundation (NSF), PureVision evaluated producing
clean fiber from biomass and agricultural waste materials. The new approach
being pursued by PureVision seeks to convert wheat straw into usable pulp
and paper products.
The PureVision wheat straw-to-fiber project continues investigating
a promising cost-reduction approach for processing agricultural residuals
into bio-products. Beginning in 2005 and continuing in 2006 the PDU is
being used to optimize the conditions for processing corn stover and other
biomass feedstocks using the PureVision fractionation technology. The
pretreated wheat straw from the fractionation process has been evaluated
at the University of Washington with promising results.-- For additional
information on this program contact Carl
Lehrburger (carl@PureVisionTechnology.com)
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