Shengquan and Novozymes to commercialize cellulosic ethanol

Shandong-based furan resin and polymers specialists, Shengquan Group, has entered into a partnership with Novozymes, a world leader in bioinnovation. The agreement will enable Shengquan to use Novozymes' technology in order to begin commercial-scale production of cellulosic ethanol for solvents in June 2012.

'Shengquan has profound experience in chemical production and is a leading company in commercializing cellulosic ethanol. Novozymes is proud to join Shengquan in nurturing a green and circular bioeconomy which lessens the dependence on fossil fuel resources,' says Poul Ruben Andersen, VP for Bioenergy at Novozymes.

Shengquan is a producer of furfural using xylose in corncobs, a monomer for resin production in the foundry industry. Using Novozymes enzymes, Shengquan will now convert corncob residues from furfural production into fermentable sugars and then into ethanol for solvents and other purposes. Shengquan's cost model shows that its current production cost of cellulosic ethanol is cost-competitive with conventional ethanol as the feedstock is a by-product of their current production.