Assessment of Conversion Technologies for Bioalcohol Fuel ...

feedstocks. The process is said to be able to use a variety of cellulosic feedstocks,
including wheat and rice straw, yard waste, commercial wood waste, agricultural
residues and forestry products and residues. Lignin byproduct from the process is
intended to be used as boiler fuel. The company also claims to have developed a
significant improvement in the fermentation process, a specially-created organism that
improves ethanol yields by 25 percent over conventional yeast fermentation.
A key feature of Losonoco’s technology is said to be its precise operating conditions
(temperature, pressure, acidity and residency) for each feedstock or mix of feedstocks.
The process is said to be able to use a variety of cellulosic feedstocks, including wheat
and rice straw, yard waste, commercial wood waste, agricultural residues and forestry
products and residues. Lignin byproduct from the process is intended to be used as
boiler fuel. The company also claims to have developed a significant improvement in
the fermentation process, a specially-created organism that improves ethanol yields by
25 percent over conventional yeast fermentation.
Development Status–Pilot-scale testing of Losonoco’s process was conducted at
the test facilities formerly operated by Tennessee Valley Authority, reportedly involving
some 40 different biomass feedstocks. Additional advanced pilot-scale and
demonstration stages of development are said to be ongoing, leading to plans for an
initial small-scale commercial facility. Emissions from the process are said to have
been quantified, but are proprietary. Wastewater effluents are said to be minimal.
Future Development Plans–Losonoco says it has projects under discussion or in
development stages at Merseyside and Teeside in the UK, in Sicily, and in the states
of Florida, Louisiana, Pennsylvania, Ohio, New York, Massachusetts, Washington and
California. Permitting for one of more projects is intended to commence in 2007, with
construction to begin in 2008 at the first site still to be selected. Losonoco is looking to
partner in project development with forestry, pulp and paper companies and other
wood waste feedstock suppliers; also in pursuing synergies between cellulosic ethanol
production and conventional sugar/starch-based ethanol production, using residues
such as sugarcane bagasse and corn stover as feedstocks for its process.
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