Joint venture hopes to launch hemp-ethanol pilot plant

Syngar Technologies has started two separate joint venture projects that will, together, help make the conversion of hemp to cellulosic ethanol a possibility.

Syngar Technologies has licensed its Pulsed Low Ultra Sound Wave (PLUSWave) Technology, which uses ultrasound frequencies to stimulate the fermentation growth of algae, bacteria, and fungus or yeast microorganisms for use in ethanol production.

In April this year, the company formed Cellunol with ANW, a South African company with a cellulosic pre-treatment technology called Oxy-Hydro Fragmentation, says Garth Likes, CEO and chairman of Syngar Technologies.

The second joint venture, announced in May, is with Discovery Minerals and will involve pilot-scale testing of on-farm small-scale production of cellulosic ethanol using waste hemp materials as a feedstock.

Both ANW and Discovery Minerals will contribute funding to establish a pilot plant where the pre-treatment and PLUSWave technology will be used to convert hemp and other cellulosic materials to cellulosic ethanol.