Biodiesel producers set to benefit from green partnership

Biodiesel producers will benefit from a green partnership between Ireland-based industrial enzyme firm Monaghan Biosciences and Australia-based biochemicals specialist Leaf Resources, as Leaf Resources continues to seek glycerol for its proprietary Glycell process, its CEO said.

Leaf Resources is currently commercialising its trademarked Glycell process. The process is a technology that uses low-cost, recyclable biodegradable reagent glycerol, in a system that breaks down plant biomass into lignin, cellulose and hemicellulose at low temperature and pressure.

The cellulose is then converted into cellulosic sugars through enzymatic hydrolysis and the lignin, hemicellulose and glycerol become co-products. Cellulosic sugars are a major feedstock for bio-based chemicals, bioplastics and biofuels.

Leaf Resources recently signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Monaghan to take its spent mushroom compost (by-product of mushroom production process) and turn it into biochemicals.

‘Potential buyer of glycerol’

Speaking to Biofuels International on how this partnership will benefit biodiesel producers, Leaf Resources CEO Ken Richards said: “All biodiesel processes produce glycerol as a by-product. For every 10 litres of biodiesel you produce you gate one litre of glycerol.

“Prices of glycerol have been falling in recent years to supply. We use raw glycerol from biodiesel as our main reagent. We are a potential buyer of large quantities of raw glycerol because we use this for our biomass process.”

Richards said that the first stage of a development programme under the MOU with Monaghan has been completed and it is now moving to stage two, with the aim of completing a feasibility study. He said Leaf Resources will be talking to biodiesel firms about the supply of glycerol once the project moved forward.

“I think this is a wonderful opportunity,” Richards explained. “Currently, Monaghan is putting the wheat straw that it uses as compost into landfill.  So, we can divert that product from landfill. Secondly, we can turn that product into renewable chemicals to replace petroleum-based chemicals. Thirdly, we can do this in an economical way.”

According to Leaf Resources, modelling has demonstrated that its Glycell process can produce cellulosic sugars at under $50 (€45) per tonne when co-product revenue is included. This compares with $220 per tonne for sugars produced from the conversion of corn starch, the cheapest alternative and $280 per tonne for raw sugar.

Richards said: “Essentially, you have two waste streams – the glycerol from the biodiesel process and the spent mushroom compost from Monaghan.  All of this can be turned into renewable chemicals to replace petroleum-based chemicals and we can do it economically.”

Leaf Resources is gaining worldwide recognition for its Glycell process and has recently announced a joint venture (JV) with US-based project developer Claeris for the purpose of developing up to five renewable chemical projects that utilise Leaf Resources’ innovation.

‘Emerging technologies’

Michael Slaney, managing partner of Claeris, said: “We have reviewed many emerging technologies in the renewable chemical sector, but we have not seen anything quite as revolutionary and potentially profitable as Leaf’s Glycell process. After a detailed technical and financial review of the Glycell technology, we are convinced that Leaf has the best process on which to base a platform company of renewable chemical projects. We are confident that we can secure the key project partners necessary to quickly develop our first project.”

The MOU with Monaghan is excluded from the JV.

“We believe our arrangement with Claeris has put Leaf Resources firmly on its next phase of growth, as it will accelerate the commercialisation of the many opportunities available to us in the renewable chemical markets,” said Richards.

This article was written by Liz Gyekye, editor of Biofuels International.