DuPont and QCCP sign multi-year enzyme supply contract for cellulosic biofuel

DuPont Industrial Biosciences (DuPont) and Quad County Corn Processors (QCCP) have signed a multi-year contract to supply the enzymes that enable QCCP’s Cellerate process in the production of cellulosic biofuel from corn kernel fibre.

In 2014, QCCP produced the US’ first cellulosic ethanol gallons and the world's first gallons from corn kernel fibre with a process developed by QCCP and powered by DuPont enzyme technology.

QCCP currently produces 35 million gallons of grain ethanol per year, but with the cellulosic ‘bolt-on’ technology, a maximum of 4 million gallons of advanced biofuel can be produced per year with the corn kernels left over from the grain ethanol process.

Currently, QCCP produces 2 million gallons of biofuel per year from cellulose conversion, but anticipates production of an additional 2 million gallons of biofuel per year once a C5 yeast is approved.

The benefits of adding second-generation biofuel production to an existing dry grind ethanol facility are substantial.

QCCP further estimates that their technology has the potential to enable grain ethanol plants in the US to produce over 1 billion gallons of cellulosic ethanol annually based on total corn kernel fibre conversion in the dry grind industry.

Delayne Johnson, CEO of QCCP, says: ‘We’ve developed a whole new category for ethanol producers to get their foot in the door of the cellulosic market.’

In addition to advanced enzyme technology, DuPont has over 25 years of expertise in the animal nutrition sector, which enables companies like QCCP to work with world renowned animal nutritionists to achieve maximum value from their co-products. 

‘DuPont’s goal is to enable the bioeconomy through science,’ says Jan Koninckx, global business director for advanced biofuel at DuPont.

DuPont will be joining QCCP as a producer of cellulosic ethanol this fall, with the commissioning of its own cellulosic ethanol biorefinery in Iowa on 30 October.

The facility will be the largest in the world and produce 30 million gallons of cellulosic biofuel from corn stover gathered from local farmers in the region.