Swedish researchers at Taurus Energy, SEKAB, Chalmers Technical University and the University of Lund have signed an agreement on development and large scale implementation of a new improved bio-technical process for production of ethanol from lignocellulose feedstocks.

The development is based on Taurus' yeast technology for fermentation of both six- and five-carbon sugars.

Ethanol based on lignocellulose is a second generation bio-fuel. It is the most efficient fuel in terms of reducing dependence on fossil-fuels as well as the impact on environment without affecting food supplies.

"Our aim is to be amongst the first in the world to demonstrate a pentose-fermenting technology suitable for efficient commercial production of ethanol based on agriculture and forestry waste," says Lars Welin, President and CEO at Taurus Energy AB. "Pentose-fermenting yeasts can substantially improve the ethanol yield."

The cooperation shall verify that Taurus' pentose technology, a field in which the company already has several patents and patent applications, works in an industrial environment.

Increased efficiency
"Taurus technology is an opportunity to significantly increase the efficiency of ethanol production from raw materials rich in pentose compared with present methods," says Jan Lindstedt, technical director at SEKAB.

"The yield could be improved up to 40 percent and thereby creating a cheaper and more environmentally friendly fuel."

The development incorporates large scale testing over a longer period at the SEKAB pilot plant in order to adapt this technology to industrial conditions. The technology has been tested on a gram and litre laboratory scale with good results. It will now be evaluated on 10 cubic metre scales.