Technology
NPT has developed a proprietary, patented, thermal process called REFNOVA®. It converts biomass such as woody and agricultural residues into high value products including advanced second generation (2G) ethanol, which can be further processed to make Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) and renewable diesel, as well as biochar and biochemicals. Our renewable products help our customers to reduce their net carbon emissions by replacing fossil-based products.
REFNOVA® is one of few advanced innovative 2G technologies in the world with an ability to unlock lignocellulosic non-food derived biomass without the use of enzymes. This unique and highly differentiated process converts the biomass into two sustainable product streams, sugars and biochar. The SARP® process is rapid (seconds and minutes) and continuous.
The feedstocks of the REFNOVA® process are abundant. They have a high lignocellulosic content and are converted into monomeric sugars and biochar. They come from processes or systems where they are considered residue or waste, for example, woodchip and sawdust from sawmills, bagasse from sugar cane processing, corn stover from corn ethanol production and fermentation residues.
REFNOVA® consists of three (3) phases
1. NOVAPRE – Pre-treatment of feedstock .
2. SARP® – our proprietary steam assisted rapid pyrolysis.
3. Sugar Production – conversion of SARP® vapour stream to fermentable sugars.
The sugars are then converted to bioethanol through fermentation. This conversion follows industry standard practices. The bioethanol can be used in the alcohol-to-jet pathway to produce sustainable aviation fuel.
Biochar
The biochar (biocarbon) is a direct co-product of the REFNOVA® process. There are very few biofuels technologies that create a commercial co-product as part of such a process. Biochar has multiple applications, including as a peat replacement, soil enhancer or in the production of green cement. Additionally, the biochar sequestrates CO2 from the atmosphere, providing a net negative emissions end-to-end process.
Learn more about REFNOVA®
