Biofine process commercialization

The acid catalysed hydrolysis of cellulose-containing biomass to levulinic acid (LA) has been known for a number of years but yields are low and tars are formed. However, by careful control of the temperature and pressure (i), Biofine Inc., has been able to develop a high yield process in a pilot plant. Commercial scaleup at several locations is in development (4). Although the literature contains numerous references to LA chemistry, the scope is limited. We now report a number of new reactions of levulinic acid. 

The following chapter describes a novel process developed by Biofine based on thermochemical conversion of cellulosic biomass to value-added fuels and chemicals. The technology has the potential to be economically competitive with existing crude oil based refining. Its commercial application offers the prospect of an economically viable fuels and chemicals industry based on domestically grown raw materials. 

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