Plants have long been used to supply useful resources in addition to food. Wood provides structural materials; cotton, flax, and hemp provide fibers for clothing or rope; and plant oils serve as a base for paints and coatings. Today there is a strong incentive to make even greater use of plant materials for industrial applications, since they are a renewable resource. MATRIC scientists and engineers are working at a number of levels to develop technology for increased utilization of plant-derived resources. Our goals are to minimize pollution, reduce our dependence on fossil fuels, and find environmentally benign and more economical alternatives to some of the industrial products now in use.
Biorefineries
Oil refineries and chemical plants now convert petroleum and natural gas to transportation fuels and chemical products. In the future, integrated biorefineries will produce fuels, chemical intermediates, plastics, and animal feed, based on biomass starting materials. MATRIC scientists are developing process technology that will allow a biorefinery to more efficiently convert sugars to chemical building blocks now obtained from petroleum. These chemical products will command higher prices than the materials usually obtained from sugars.
Some of the products of a biorefinery will become available in greater quantities and at lower cost, which opens opportunities for new industrial applications. As an example, vegetable oils (derived from soybeans, corn, canola, sunflowers, etc.) are triglycerides. When these oils are hydrolyzed or transesterified (as they are in the production of biodiesel) to release their fatty acids, glycerol is formed as a coproduct. Although glycerol has a number of current uses, the future supply will greatly exceed current demand, so there is an opportunity for additional outlets for this material. MATRIC scientists are developing technology that will allow the production of a family of important chemical building blocks from this versatile molecule.
Biofuels and Related Products
Biofuels such as ethanol and biodiesel will reduce our dependence on non-renewable fossil fuels. Because biomass sequesters carbon in its growth process, use of biomass-derived fuels does not add to net greenhouse emissions. Ethanol is now obtained by fermentation of grain, but it and many other products can potentially be produced from currently unused byproducts of agriculture and industry. Developing improved uses for these materials reduces waste and pollution.
MATRIC has relationships with organizations involved in improved biotechnology for fermentation ethanol, processes for utilizing lignocellulosic materials for ethanol production, conversion of plant oils to biodiesel, and anaerobic digestion of agricultural wastes for the production of fuel and other bioproducts. Expertise provided by MATRIC is focusing on enhancing the efficiency of these processes to promote commercialization and more profitable operation. MATRIC is also exploring new products and formulations based on the products of these technologies.
In partnership with BEST Energies, MATRIC has developed novel continuous technology for production of biodiesel, which is now operating in a plant in Cashton, Wisconsin. The plant is owned and operated by BEST Energies, Inc., a bioenergy company based in Madison, Wisconsin. MATRIC developed the process technology for the plant, which is will produce eight million gallons per year of biodiesel fuel from soybean oil and corn oil. The new process was developed within a strategic partnership established between MATRIC and BEST Energies in the bioenergy area. MATRIC serves as the Research, Development and Engineering resource in the partnership, and BEST is the commercial partner. MATRIC led the detailed engineering effort for the plant and provided engineering construction support for the project.
Wood Products
Wood products obtained from pulping processes in the paper industry have the potential for many applications beyond those currently in use. These products include resin acids, turpentine compounds, tall oil, and complex sugars. MATRIC is investigating the chemistry and potential new applications of these materials.
Tannins are a class of molecules derived from the bark of certain trees and which have some unique chemical properties. MATRIC is investigating the potential uses of tannins and related molecules as biocides and wood preservatives. These materials are non-toxic to humans and could replace hazardous, environmentally harmful chemicals now used.
Products from Waste Materials
Some agricultural products and by-products have little value and are treated as waste. Others are environmentally harmful and cannot be released. MATRIC is participating in an effort to process agricultural wastes into fuel and valuable products. Technical expertise offered by MATRIC is primarily in the separation of specific valuable bioproducts from the product stream, and in implementing economical techniques for reducing the water content of the liquid effluent.
MATRIC is actively investigating some of the technologies described here. Others have been developed conceptually, and MATRIC is seeking partnerships and research funding to allow their full development and demonstration. Our results-oriented approach combines broad experience and expertise in the areas of chemical process development, catalysis, process engineering, and novel separation technologies.