Paper and fuel from the fields
Wheat, corn or rice straw is not a useless agricultural waste. Technology developed in Finland turns it into bioethanol and pulp.
Chempolis Oy, which is emerging from Oulu to the world, offers industry energy-self-sufficient and environmentally friendly biorefinery technologies and production solutions. Huge markets await them, for example in China, where the company is currently preparing to build a biorefinery. Chempolis' key technologies are called formicofib and formicobio. The former produces pulp from non-woody plants for the production of paper and cardboard, the latter produces bioethanol from non-food plants for transportation fuel.
“Often, crop residues, such as straw, are burned or left to rot in the field. Our process utilizes all the chemical components of the plant,” says Chempolis’s Asia Business Director. Pasi Rose.
– Products can also be made from hemicellulose and lignin, which are produced during the production of the main product. Hemicellulose is used to produce biochemicals, while lignin is suitable for use in the factory's energy production.
– And it doesn't matter whether the plant is made into bioethanol or pulp. We can modify the fiber according to the desired end product.
On the threshold of commercialization and growth
Chempolis is now on the cusp of commercializing its product development and experiencing significant growth. The company plans to focus on licensing its patented technologies, delivering key processes, and being responsible for the design, procurement, and commissioning of production facilities.
“We want to sell unique chemical expertise, not equipment. Such a concept enables the utilization of local equipment manufacturing, which lowers investment costs,” Rousu explains.
Chempolis is looking for growth in China and other parts of Asia in particular. Due to the large population, various biomasses generated as by-products of food production are abundantly and inexpensively available there.
Read more in Paperi ja puu magazine issue 1/2011
