Leaf Energy completes production trials for sugarcane to biofuel technology

Leaf Energy has completed trials at the Andritz pilot plant facility using its Glycerol Pretreatment Process on waste sugarcane in Ohio, US.

The company uses its patented technology to convert waste biomass into cellulose. This is then turned into biofuels, bioplastics and green chemicals.

A continuous processing rate up to 4.4 tonnes per day was achieved and is a step forward towards commercialisation of Leaf Energy's technology.

The material produced from this continuous process trial will undergo compositional analysis and enzyme digestion evaluations with a globally recognised laboratory in the USA.

Genencor and Novozymes, two major companies in enzymes markets, have agreed to allow Leaf to evaluate their current commercial enzymes on the trial product once initial analysis is complete.

Leaf Energy has also signed a research contract with Queensland University of Technology to test the Glycerol Pretreatment Process on palm oil waste, as well as eucalyptus and conifer tree material.

The company says iscussions have commenced with several potential partners to commercialise the Glycerol Pretreatment Process.