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Processes

GSF has several process technology under development.  The GSF Process™  utilizes simultaneous solid-state saccharification and fermentation for the  conversion of biomass into ethanol.  This process utilizes all the biomass carbohydrates and has been applied to a wide range of feedstock including waste paper, wood, MSW and agricultural residues.

The 5CS™ process is designed to extract only the hemicellulose portion of the biomass carbohydrates leaving the residue for utilization for co-product production such as fiber or heat.  The process has been trialed on a wide range of feedstocks including a variety of wood chips and sugar cane basgasse.

5CS™ Process

The 5CS™ employed by GeoSynFuels is fundamentally different from other cellulosic technology.  The process employs a mild pretreatment to liberate hemicellulose from biomass and convert it to xylose, a five-carbon sugar. Xylose is then fermented to ethanol through a proprietary microbial system.  The process is elegant in its simplicity and ideally suited for application within established industries.  The technology has the following advantages:

• Utilization of non-food, centrally-collected, renewable feedstocks;

• Potential to be the lowest cost biomass-to-ethanol technology;

• Flexibility to operate over a wide range of scales;

• Ability to bolt on to existing industrial facilities, taking advantage of shared permits, utilities and overheads.  

By contrast, most companies developing cellulosic ethanol technologies are attempting to convert all of the carbohydrates (both the 5 and 6 carbon sugars) and in some cases the lignin as well. This approach has the benefit of achieving high ethanol yields per ton of feedstock, however process costs rise dramatically with the increased complexity.  Ethanol yield from hemicellulose alone is not typically sufficient to offset the cost of feedstock, but when applied as a bolt-on to existing pulp mills the economics become extremely compelling. The GSF approach is unique in that it integrates into established industrial operations. 

GSF Process^TM

The GSF Process^TM is focused on the conversion of non-food renewable biomass to cost effective energy employing enzymatic hydrolysis.  GSF has developed proprietary technologies focused on pretreatment, saccharification, fermentation including 5-carbon sugar utilization, and ethanol recovery.  The core of the technology is the utilization of simultaneous solid-state saccharification and fermentation.

We are closing the carbon cycle by converting renewable plant waste into energy. The potential greenhouse gases formed by the combustion of these fuels are reabsorbed by the same plant matter that was used in their production. The soil nutrients are returned as natural compost generated by the process.

For more information on the carbon cycle please visit the Woods Hole Research Center.

Other Technologies

GeoSynFuels is focused on complimentary technologies related to the production of biogas from agricultural waste including manure, food waste and cellulosic biomass.