The biofine technology : A bio-refinery concept based on thermochemical conversion of cellulosic biomass

The Biofine process is a high temperature, dilute acid-catalyzed rapid hydrolysis of lignocellulosic biomass. The process refines the biomass feed into four products: Levulinic acid, a versatile platform chemical, formic acid and furfural, commodity chemicals and a carbonaceous powder that can be burned or gasified to produce steam and electric power. The process is carried out in a reactor system that enhances the yield of the major products making it commercially viable. The process is flexible enough to utilize a wide range of lignocellulose. Derivative products of interest include automotive fuels, monomers, herbicides and general chemicals. A commercial scale process is now under construction. The process could potentially allow biomass to displace crude oil as the primary source of fuels and chemicals.