The Syntec Process focuses on an entirely different ethanol production methodology from today’s conventional method that relies on the fermentation of food chain feedstocks (i.e. corn or sugar cane). Syntec uses source feedstocks from renewable waste materials including wood waste, crop residues including sugar cane bagasse and corn stover, organic waste, manure, sewage digester gas or landfill gas.

Technically speaking, the Syntec Process is a BTL (biomass-to-liquid) conversion path quite similar to modern day methanol or GTL (gas-to-liquid) production processes used commercially. The key differentiating factors are the feedstocks, catalysts and operating parameters.

There are 3 basic steps in the Syntec Process:

The Syntec Process has the potential to revolutionize the ethanol industry with higher ethanol yields and lower production costs per ton of feedstock than any other ethanol production path in use today. Furthermore, it is anticipated that the Syntec Process will enable the conventional ethanol industry to value add by using these well established chemical processes (via the DOE’s integrated biorefinery program) to obtain production and efficiency metrics beyond which traditional grain based fermentation processes can offer.

Perhaps the most important aspect of the Syntec Process is the ability to convert abundant, low cost (sometimes negative cost) waste products into ethanol and bio-alcohols without harming the agricultural land base or competing with consumable food stocks. These green biofuels significantly reduce green house gas emission. Moreover, enough biomass exists and is renewed every year in North America, and other parts of the world, to significantly reduce a country’s dependence on imported oil required for petroleum derived fuels.