Futurol

Futurol™ - Simple, integrated cellulosic ethanol production technology

Futurol™ technology concerns the production of 2nd generation (2G) bio-ethanol from various biomasses suitable for fuel and chemical applications alike.

To develop the technology at an industrial scale, three key milestones have been achieved.

Futurol™ technology has been developed since 2008 by a consortium of 4 R&D partners (IFP Energies nouvelles, INRA, Lesaffre and ARD), backed by seven industrial and financial partners (Office national des forêts, Tereos, Total, Vivescia, Crédit Agricole Nord Est Participations, CGB, Unigrains). Their expertise covers the whole production chain, from biomass cultivation and transformation - through biocatalyst development and selection - to the development and industrialization of fuels and petrochemical production processes.

Bio-ethanol production through Futurol™ technology is a simple and integrated 4-step process :

• Pretreatment

An energy-efficient, single-train, continuous technology converts biomass feedstock such as energy crops, agricultural and wood residues to a standardized pretreated substrate, highly digestible and with low moisture.

• Bio catalysts Production

Inhibitors resistant tailor-made biocatalysts (enzymes and yeasts) were designed, adapted and improved to optimize process performances. Futurol™ offers on-site enzyme production and yeast propagation using lignocellulosic substrate, which strongly contributes to ethanol production cost reduction.

• Hydrolysis and Fermentation

Enzymatic hydrolysis of biomass and co-fermentation of C5 and C6 sugars take place simultaneously in the same vessel (“one-pot” process). This process configuration capitalizes on a unique synergy between biocatalysts and allows for both CAPEX and OPEX minimization while achieving high ethanol yield through the full conversion of C5 and C6 sugars.

• Products Recovery

Product separation allow recovery of 2G ethanol suitable for biofuel applications or for further processing in chemical production. Lignin and stillage are recovered and routed to energy production while water is recycled.