Syntec Biofuel Inc. (symbol SYBF.OB) is a public company
trading on the OTC.BB. Syntec has contracted with Vancouver-based Syntec Biofuel Research Inc.
for the express purpose of advancing the catalysis research
that originated at the University of British Columbia in 2001.
Syntec Biofuel is developing advanced, thermochemical catalysts for the production of ethanol from syngas -in particular- syngas derived from a host of renewable resources including waste gases, biogas, municipal solid waste and virtually any type of low-cost, cellulosic material including wood waste (hardwood/softwood), agricultural residues or DECs (dedicated
energy crops).
First Generation Ethanol
90% of ethanol production today relies on a fermentation
process using food-chain feedstocks such as corn or sugar cane.
The process typically involves grinding the feedstock into starch
using a dry/wet milling process, converting the starch into sugars
through an enzymatic process, followed by fermentation of the sugars
using yeast to produce ethanol.
Although profitable when oil prices are at US$40/bbl,
ethanol fermented from food-chain feedstocks faces some
significant hurdles if it’s going to address fossil fuel
dependence namely:
EROEI |
| The energy returned over energy invested is marginal as estimates of net energy yield ranges anywhere from 0% to at best 30%. |
LAND |
| There is simply not enough arable land on the planet to facilitate ethanol production via fermentation in the quantities needed to offset Peak Oil decline rates. |
The Next Generation of Ethanol
The basic concept of Syntec's methodology has been around for some time as GTL or gas-to-liquid molecular reconstruction, a relatively simple process that has been adopted for the production of methanol from natural gas but not one that has been applied to the production of ethanol due primarily to the lack of a highly selective ethanol catalyst.
At Syntec, scientists have focused on an entirely different ethanol production path – one that would produce ethanol more economically and in greater volume from what are considered to be waste or renewable feedstocks including:
 
Forest residues (wood waste)
Biogas
MSW (municipal
solid waste)
AG residues (corn stover, bagasse)
Coal
DECS (miscanthus,
hemp, poplar)
It is this flexibility of feedstock that will allow
Syntec catalysts to be deployed on a truly global basis across a
wide variety of existing commercial applications.
Virtually any industry with waste carbonaceous materiel will
have the potential to capitalize on the production of the next
generation of ethanol while promoting energy security and a
greener environment.
Support
The promise of exponentially greater ethanol yields through a thermo-chemical catalytic synthesis has helped the Syntec research team secure funding from both private and government sources.
The National Research Council of Canada and Natural Resources Canada have recognized Syntec Biofuel as the leader in its field and has provided financial assistance for further research.
The University of British Columbia and Simon Fraser University have also been key supporting institutions. | 
