New technology of making cellulosic ethanol

American Process Inc. is ready to begin small-scale production of ethanol at its new Thomaston plant this week, using an approach that differs from many other biofuel producers in Middle Georgia.

Its method of making cellulosic ethanol, a newly developing fuel type made from plant fibers, is designed to piggyback on traditional paper mills.

A byproduct that is usually burned for energy could be processed into ethanol instead of right at the mill, said Bob Belling, vice president of business development for American Process.

A medium-sized pulp mill could produce about 14 million gallons of ethanol, Belling said.

"Our thinking is pulp mills are the ideal home for a biorefinery, because they've got the infrastructure, engineers, everything but the capital," he said.

American Process could license its technology to paper mills or do the project development and management itself, Belling said.

The Thomaston plant is "very small scale" and meant to mostly prove and refine the technology, probably over the next six months, Belling said. After that, the plant could be used to test other raw materials for use in biofuels.

About 20 of the 30 jobs created by the project will be in Thomaston, Belling said. The rest will be in Atlanta.

Cellulosic ethanol has its own separate mandates under the new national renewable fuel standard: 16 billion gallons a year by 2022. And the requirements begin, at much more modest levels, this year.

"Oil companies are scrambling to find that source," Belling said. "There's almost no cellulosic ethanol being produced right now."

source: istockanalyst