Australia-headed biotech developer Leaf Resources Ltd has announced that the relevant Malaysian authorities have approved a manufacturing licence for the proposed biorefinery at Segamat, Malayisa. The biorefinery will incorporate Leaf’s proprietary Glycell technology that converts plant waste into valuable industrial sugars and other chemicals used in a wide variety of products and by downstream manufacturing industries.
According to a statement, the company’s Malaysian subsidiary, Leaf Malaysia, has been granted a manufacturing licence for the production of fermentable sugars (hexose and pentose), refined glycerol and lignin by the Ministry of International Trade and Industry (MIDA).
The licence approval is subject to the completion of an environmental study, as well as other standard conditions including the use of approved architectural and engineering consultancy services in the design of the biorefinery.
Leaf Managing Director Ken Richards said the licence approval is another important milestone in progressing the biorefinery project and reflects the positive engagement with Malaysian authorities.
Our Glycell technology uses renewable inputs in low energy, low-cost process that produces low carbon alternatives to petroleum-based chemicals and plastics. The abundant supply of empty fruit bunch (EFB) – a waste product of palm oil production – in close proximity to the Johor site makes it an ideal location for the biorefinery, said Richards.
Richards also said that Leaf will shortly commence the final phase 3 integrated demonstration trials of the Glycell process, which will produce samples of fermentable sugars, refined glycerol, and lignin for potential customers. This follows the successful conclusion of phase 1 and phase 2 trials in Delft, the Netherlands.
This final study will include the unique separation technology (simulated moving bed chromatography) unit designed and built by Amalgamated Research Inc (ARI), the Company’s chromatographic separations development partner.
The unit has now arrived in the Netherlands from the United States (US) and will be installed into the pilot plant at Delft and commissioned over the next few weeks.
Positive progress is also being made towards the start of our critical FEL 3 study, with a number of international engineering firms having advised their interest in undertaking this final engineering study on the Segamat site. We expect to finalise that appointment and timetable for this work by the end of October, said Ken Richards.
