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Biomass Conversion Platform
Bio Pacific Rim Summit
December 8, 2014
Jeff Fornero Ph.D.
VP-Engineering, Glucan Biorenewables LLC
1005 North Warson Road, Suite 401
St. Louis, Missouri 63132
A NIDUS PORTFOLIO COMPANY
Biomass Conversion PlatformOrganic liquid phase catalysis using biomass derived solvent: gamma-valerolactone
Technical Advantages…
• Hydrolyzes biomass 100 times faster than aqueous platforms
• Fractionates soluble C5 and lignin from solid cellulose
• Converts C5 into furfural in minutes and minimizes degradation
• Converts solid cellulose into glucose in minutes
• Produce high concentration sugars
• No enzymes used in the process
Economics…
Product Cost Price
Furfural $410/mt $1,400/mt
Glucose $410/mt $660/mt
Biomass Conversion Platform –Continuous Process
Wood
Bagasse
PO EFB
Cobs
MOG
Oat Hulls
Digestion
GVL solvent
<30 min
low acid
low temp
Soluble
C5/lignin
Solid
cellulose
Separation
GVL solvent
liquid/solid
mechanical
separation
Glucose,
LA, &
HMF
Furfural
Reactions
GVL solvent
<30 minutes
moderate
temp
Furfural
GVL recyclePO EFB = Pine oil empty fruit bunches
MOG: Material other than grain
Glucose
Specialty
ProductsLignin
Purification
Technology: Basics of GVL
Key Advantages of GVL
• Increased reactivity of mineral acids:
• Hydrolysis (100 X vs. water)
• Dehydration (30 X vs. water).
• Low temperature and acid concentrations required
• Works with a variety of lignocellulosic biomass types
• Can use “wet” biomass
• Solubilizes lignin/humins for subsequent recovery
• Minimizes formation of solids inside the reactor.
• High concentrations of furfural and C6 sugars can be achieved
• The C5 sugars can be separated from the C6 sugars.
• Sugars are suitable for fermentation or production of furans
• GVL is stable under reaction conditions and can be produced on-site from biomass
Solvent Hydrolysis and Dehydration
Fractionation of Lignocellulosic Biomass
C5 sugars can be solubilized at high yield
Portion of the C5 sugars are converted into furfural
Small amount of the cellulose is hydrolyzed to glucose
0
20
40
60
80
100
120
Yie
ld (
%)
130°C. 30 wt% dry bagasse. 70/30 GVL/water 0.15 M SA. 60 min
HMF+LA
Glucose
furfural
C5
GVL Versatility –with Multiple Types of Biomass
Ideal for regions with abundant renewable biomass sources
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
100
0 10 20 30 40 50
Fu
rfu
ral yie
ld (
%)
Reaction time (min)
160 C. 90 wt% GVL/10 wt% water. Overall 0.05 M SA.
Corn Cob
Corn stover
Bagasse
Xylose
Oat hulls
Maple wood
Corn fiber
Mix of biomass
MOG
GVL Produces Higher Yields
GVL enhances dehydration reactions.
Furfural degraded versus furfural produced ratio is reduced.
Furfural produced at high concentration.
Cellulose Hydrolyzed in GVLNo enzymes
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
100
7 17 27 37 47 57
Yie
ld (
%)
Time (min)
Levulinic acid
HMF
Glucose
Fructose
GVL
Market Dynamics/Strategic Fit in Furfural MarketGlucanBio is well-positioned to be the high volume/high margin producer.
MARGINSHighLow
VO
LU
ME
Low
Hig
h
245kmt
Biomass input: cobs
35kmt
Biomass input: bagasse
Biomass input: flexible
Intellectual Property Protection
Exclusive License – GVL solvent system
• Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation
• Five GVL/Furan Related Patents
• Two issued/Three Pending
• Creating New GlucanBio IP
GVL Advantages
• Superior technical performance
• Made from biomass within the process
• Low cost sustainable solvent
10
Development Path
Dumesic Lab
Bench Scale Testing
PilotUnit
(80dmt/yr Biomass)
Demo Unit8,000dmt/yr
biomass
1,000mt/yr
furfural
CBiRC GlucanBio Lab R&D
IP Development
Business Development
2012 2013 2014 2015 2016
Stage
Pilot: $5M
Demonstration: $20M
Commercial: $80M
2017
GlucanBio Team
James Dumesic
Ph.D.
Founder, leading
expert in catalytic
conversion, founder
of Virent
Brent Shanks Ph.D.
Founder, Director,
CBiRC, 10 years
with Shell Oil,
catalysis expertise
Jeff Fornero Ph.D
VP Engineering
Vicki Gonzalez
CEO
Duke Leahey
IP & Licensing
David Alonso Ph.D.
Director R&D
Significant experience in catalysis, engineering scale-up, intellectual property management, and early stage commercialization
Advisory Board
• Vicki Holt, CEO Proto
Labs Inc.
• Terry Sutter,
Executive Advisor,
Aurora Capital
• Larry Clarke, former
Executive VP Bunge
• Peter Keeling,
founder, Innovation
Director, CBiRC
• Bruce Greer, VP
Strategic Planning
and IT, Olin Corp.
Sikander Hakim Ph.D.
R&D
Summary
• GVL solvent is cost disruptive versus current best available technologies in the cellulosic sugar and furfural markets.
• Three multi-national chemical companies agreed to 100% off-take agreement for furfural.
• Joint development agreement with Chevron Phillips Chemical for specialty product.
• Research collaboration with Sarawak Biodiversity Center, Kuching, Sarawak, Malaysia
• Exclusive patent protection for GVL platform and worlds leading catalysis scientists to support commercialization.
• Corporate interest in platform supports continued commercialization and likelihood of successful exit.
ContactsGlucan Biorenewables, LLC1005 N. Warson Rd, Suite 401
St. Louis, MO 63132
Vicki Gonzalez, CEO
Jeff Fornero, VP Engineering
David Martin Alonso, Director R&D