Linde, Süd-Chemie start advanced biofuels plant

Munich, Germany - Gases and engineering company Linde Group and Süd-Chemie AG, a manufacturer of catalysts and  adsorbents, have started production of second generation biofuels based on lignocellulosic biomass at a pilot plant. The facility, at Süd-Chemie's research centre in Munich-Obersendling, will process cereal straw to manufacture up to two tonnes of bioethanol fuel annually.

The process developed by Süd-Chemie and Linde allows biofuels, such as ethanol, to be extracted from plant matter containing cellulose, including wheat straw or maize straw, with the aid of enzymes created using biotechnological methods, said a joint statement from the companies.

The  biofuels partnership combines Süd-Chemie's expertise in the sectors of biocatalysis and bioprocess engineering, Linde's subsidiary Linde-KCA-Dresden's experience in implementing chemical and biotechnological processes on a commercial scale.

The pilot plant represents a scaled-down version of the entire integrated manufacturing process required to convert straw into bioethanol. Construction of a larger demonstration plant producing several thousand tons of bioethanol each year is due to commence in the near future, the companies said.

"The start-up of this pilot plant demonstrates the systematic implementation of Süd-Chemie's strategy of developing sustainable and ecological manufacturing processes for climate-friendly biofuels to market maturity in an economically efficient manner," said Edgar Binnemann, CFO of Süd-Chemie.