Biofine and Sprague enter into an agreement to produce and market ethyl levulinate
Type of post: NEWS IN BRIEF.
Biofine Developments Northeast Inc. (Biofine) and Sprague Resources LP (Sprague) have signed a purchase agreement for the production and marketing of ethyl levulinate (EL). The first market application for the EL is as a sustainable heating fuel. Future opportunities may include the fields of the marine and jet fuels. The Biofine technology enables the production of high value fuels and chemicals from cellulosic residues, including non-food feedstock such as wood, agricultural residues and municipal waste fiber.
Press release: “Biofine and Sprague work together to market next generation of biofuels”, 20/10/2020.
Related post: “Levulinic acid biorefineries”.
Figure 1. EL combustion test (photo credits: NORA). National Oilheat Research Alliance (NORA), National Energy and Fuels Institute (NEFI) and other trade associations support the use of the EL as an advanced biofuel.
Biofine is focused on establishing a biorefining industry in Maine to leverage the unique combination of industrial infrastructure and abundant wood-based biomass resources of this state. The production of energy from waste materials has been a key objective for Biofine President and CEO Dr. Stephen Fitzpatrick for more than 20 years. The company is the exclusive licensee of the proprietary intellectual property and numerous significant patents at the core of the EL production process. Under the direction of Fitzpatrick and Chief Development Officer Mike Cassata, has assembled a team, including The University of Maine-Forest Bioproducts Research Institute (that has worked with Biofine to validate and demonstrate the technology at pilot scale) and Treadwell Franklin Infrastructure Capital (as development agent) to advance multiple biorefinery projects producing EL and co-products on an industrial scale utilizing Maine forest residues.
Under the terms of the agreement, Sprague will facilitate the commercialization of EL through its commitment to purchase and market a significant portion of the fuel produced from Biofine’s first production facility. Sprague Resources LP is engaged in the purchase, storage, distribution and sale of refined petroleum products and natural gas. Sprague also provides storage and handling services for a broad range of materials, including wind energy components.