US-based American Science and Technology Corporation (AST), a company focused on converting lignocellulosic biomass into high-value chemicals and products, has selected compatriot Baisch Engineering, an integration engineering company for process related industries, to assist in the scale-up of its Wausau (WI) biorefinery pilot plant. The new scaled-up plant will increase AST’s processing capacity from 200 pounds of lignocellulosic biomass per day to 2 tons per day.
According to a statement, Baisch Engineering’s role in the scale-up effort will cover everything from process engineering, electrical and instrument engineering, structural engineering, and programming of the distributed control system to providing cost estimates as well as construction assistance.
We are very confident and excited about our selection of Baisch Engineering to help us progress to the next stage and to expand our ability to deliver novel products more efficiently. They are a well-established company with a highly experienced and creative team of engineers who will be able to provide invaluable knowledge and technical expertise, said Dr Ali Manesh, President and CEO at AST.
AST has been utilizing its complete and integrated biorefinery facilities to develop a highly sustainable and economically viable “organosolv” process to convert cellulosic biomass into highly refined fermentable sugars, pure lignin, high-quality pulp, and organic solvents. AST’s cellulosic sugars and lignin are key intermediate products in supply chains for producing biochemicals, plastics, biofuels, and nutritional supplements for food.
As a result of its ongoing collaboration with the University of Wisconsin – Stevens Point (UWSP), AST and UWSP were awarded approximately US$2.8 million in November of 2013, as part of a US$22.5 million initiative by the University of Wisconsin System institutions, to help scale up AST’s biorefinery pilot plant. The new pilot plant is scheduled to come on-line in late 2015.
