The company has used its two-step thermo-chemical process, which uses heat, pressure, and steam to convert non-food biomass, such as woody biomass and grasses, into a synthesis gas composed of hydrogen and carbon monoxide.
The syngas is then passed over a proprietary catalyst to produce mixed alcohols that are separated and processed to yield a variety of low-carbon biofuels, including cellulosic ethanol and methanol.
Range Fuels will use the cellulosic methanol produced from Phase 1 to produce biodiesel, displacing diesel oil in transportation and in heating applications, and as a fuel additive in gasoline-powered motor vehicles, or to power fuel cells.
The Soperton Plant, which will initially use woody biomass from nearby timber operations, will experiment with other types of renewable biomass as feedstock for the conversion process, including herbaceous feedstocks like miscanthus and switchgrass.
Range Fuels expects to begin production of cellulosic ethanol from the plant in the third quarter this year and plans to expand the capacity of the plant to 60 million gallons of cellulosic biofuels annually with construction to begin next summer.
Range Fuels president and CEO David Aldou said that they are ecstatic to be producing cellulosic methanol from their Soperton Plant, and are on track to begin production of cellulosic ethanol in the third quarter of this year.
