Sustainable Value Added Products
CECUM has developed a platform for extracting lignin from industrial hemp and turning the cellulose and fibers into value added products, while capturing carbon in the process.
How It Works
Biomass conversion technology
It begins with air, a great untapped ocean of CO2. Industrial hemp crops capture 20 tonnes of CO2 per acre through photosynthesis and package it up as cellulose. It's the original carbon-capture technology.
Renewable hemp biomass. Primarily made up of C-6 cellulose (sugar) and lignin (binder) and as a non-food (“gen-2”) plant-based feedstock it doesn't compete with food production, so it's a win for companies, people and the environment.
Value added products. The 2-stage process deconstructs the biomass into components of fiber, cellulose and lignin. Fibers are produced for sale in 3 grades, C-6 cellulose goes on to become Lactic acid or Ethanol and Lignin is equally versatile as a phenolic extractive.
Markets and applications. Graded fibers are strong, light, and absorbent making them useful in a wide range of applications from simple nonwovens to complex composites. C-6 cellulose sugars are fermented into food grade Lactic acid or can be sold for ‘Gen2’ Ethanol production. Chemically modified lignin is used as a bio-based binder.
Business to Business Products
Specialty Fibers
Commercially available natural and man made custom fiber blends tailored to individual requirements.
Properties:
- Lower cost than other fibers
- High tensile strength
- Light weight
- Absorbent
Suitable for these manufacturing process:
- Nonwovens
- Heat forming
- Pressure formed
Applications:
- Vertical farming / growing medium
- Agricultural input / amendments
- Industrial clean up
C-6 Cellulose
‘Gen 2’ C-6 cellulose sugars are processed at pilot scale for batch fermentation.
Properties:
- Gen 2 - made from non food source feedstock
- 80% cellulose to glucose conversion rate
Suitable for fermentation process:
- Lactic acid production – technical grade / food grade
- Bio Ethanol production
- Other process chemicals like 1,2 butanediol
Applications:
- Lactic acid – food additive, PLA manufacturing, technical applications
- Ethanol – fuel blending, heating, hydrogen conversion
Bio-based Binder
Native lignin – a bio based binder processed at pilot scale for R&D work.
Properties:
- Bio-based binder
- Economic
- Can be chemically modified
- High thermal stability
- Superior to ‘KRAFT’ type lignin
Applications:
- High performance binder
- Feedstock for specialty resins and adhesives
- Used as an additive for many products
Request Sample
Companies interested in using our Products or Product Development Services, can request data sheets, samples and further information about our commercially available products.