PureVision selects Oregon for biorefining technology scale up

PureVision Technology, a Colorado, US-based biorefinery developer, will scale up its biorefining technology at an industrial site in Boardman, Oregon owned by biorefinery developer ZeaChem.

PureVision's patented biorefining technology takes in raw biomass, such as corn stalks, wheat straw and industrial hemp, and produces sugars, pulp, lignin and other value-added materials for making thousands of bio-products. The process has advanced from proof of concept, to bench scale, to an operating half a tonne per day continuous pilot plant at the company's Fort Lupton, Colorado headquarters.

'After an 18-month search for a site to develop our commercial demonstration-scale biorefinery, we are excited to team up with ZeaChem and co-locate our advanced biorefining technology at their existing $70 million (€63.7 million) biorefinery in Boardman, Oregon,' says PureVision CEO Ed Lehrburger. 'The significant infrastructure in place at the ZeaChem facility will reduce the costs and timing to develop our 25 tonne per day biorefining project.'

PureVision and ZeaChem are working to finalise arrangements and expect to begin construction later this year.

'Working with ZeaChem at their plant in Oregon provides a pathway to demonstrate the PureVision technology and establish commercial operations globally,' Lehrburger continues. 'We expect to begin operations during 2016 using different feedstocks including hybrid poplar and industrial hemp.'

 

SOURCE: PureVision