RenFuel

LIGNOL® PILOT FACILITY, UPPSALA SWEDEN With the support of the Swedish Energy Agency and NextGenerationEU, RenFuel is progressing towards establishing a pilot facility for the Lignol® core process at RenFuel R&D Center in Uppsala, Sweden. This facility will enable us to fine-tune process conditions for various types of lignin and biomass as well as deliver concept studies for industrial production. 1.     Lignin Pre-Treatment RenFuel brings expertise in the chemistry and technology required to elevate different types and qualities of lignin to commercial quality levels. This technology is adaptable to each unique raw material. 2.     Slurry Preparation Purified RenFuel lignin is milled and dried, then mixed with a fatty acid source to create a lignin slurry, which is dried through evaporation. For some lignin qualities, it may be appropriate to skip the lignin drying step and instead perform stepwise evaporation of the lignin slurry. In business models and location strategies where processing occurs at different sites, there is also the option to transport the processed lignin or lignin slurry to another site for further processing. 3.     Lignol® Reaction The dry lignin slurry is fed into the Lignol® reactor, where the esterification reaction is initiated by adding a homogeneous catalyst and activator. The catalyst and activator are separated from the crude Lignol® and sent to chemical recovery for later reuse. 4.     Post-Treatment Lignol® is mixed with the desired carrier liquid from the refinery. Centrifugation is then used to separate and recirculate lignin that is not fully esterified. Semi-solids and organic fragments that could harm or block the refinery catalysts are removed through filtration to achieve commercial grade Lignol®. Lignol® can then replace fossil feedstocks in refinery processes, and its hydrocarbon products are fully miscible in the standard types of fossil fuel products. Do you have a production side-stream or biomass containing lignin? We have the expertise to transform your lignin into a valuable and essential resource. If you want to evaluate your lignin and receive a process design tailored to your specific quality, there is an opportunity to participate in the commissioning phase of our pilot plant project.

Närmar sig examen? Är du intresserad av att bidra till utvecklingen av biobaserade drivmedel? Då kan du söka exjobb hos RenFuel! RenFuel grundades 2012 och har vuxit till att bli ett ledande forskningsföretag inom ligninbaserade drivmedel och material. Vår forskning bedrivs i Uppsala, Fyrislund, där vi är ett team på 8 personer. Utöver detta har vi även huvudkontor i Stockholm och en pilotanläggning i Örnsköldsvik. Som exjobbare hos oss kommer du att ingå i vårt team i Fyrislund och arbeta med vår bioolja, Lignol®. Din uppgift blir att utreda olika tillvägagångssätt att förbereda produkten inför raffinering. Vi söker dig som studerar kemi och har goda laborativa erfarenheter. Eftersom vi är ett litet team, krävs det att du kan ta eget ansvar och arbeta självständigt. Låter detta som något för dig? Ansök idag och bli en del av den fossilfria omställningen! Ansökan eller frågor kring tjänsten skickas till ludwig.wahlin@renfuel.se

HOW CAN THE PULP INDUSTRY PLAY A CENTRAL ROLE IN THE ADVANCEMENT OF BIOFUELS? By promoting sustainable forestry, we can create jobs and develop environmentally friendly products. Lignin, an underutilized byproduct from the pulp industry, has the potential to play a significant role in this transition. Did you know that at least 25% of the available lignin can be extracted from an average pulp mill without disrupting the chemical balance? This extraction can reduce biogenic green-house gas emissions from the pulp mill by about 9,000 tons of bio-CO2 eq./year. Lignin is extracted from the black liquor using commercial technology such as Lignoboost®, supplied by Valmet. By delivering its lignin to the Lignol® process, a pulp mill with the potential to extract 75,000 tons of lignin per year can contribute to reducing green-house gas emissions from the transportation sector by 137,000 tons of CO2 per year. The pulp industry has an incredible opportunity to enhance national fuel supply, reduce emissions from transportation, and contribute to meeting the Paris Agreement targets. #sustainableforestry #pulpandpaper #lignin #ligninfuel #sustainability #Lignol® #independentfuelsupply #Valmet #RenFuel

COMSTOCK COMPLETES INVESTMENT IN RENFUEL AND LIGNOL®   Comstock Inc. has completed the agreements with RenFuel. The current investment is up to $3 million over three years to commercialize our integrated technologies for producing renewable biofuels from lignocellulosic residuals and waste streams.   The integration of RenFuel’s Lignol© and Comstock’s Bioleum™ technologies are proven to convert lignocellulosic biomass residuals into renewable fuels at best-in-class yields, exceeding 378 liters of fuel equivalent (GGE) and a market-leading Green House Gas (GHG) emission reduction of more than 92%. This corresponds to a Carbon Intensity (CI) score of about 15.  RenFuel previously completed extensive preliminary engineering for a new biorefinery to produce about 75 thousand tonnes per annum (tpa) of the bio intermediate Lignol® for refining into sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) and renewable diesel in Europe. Currently, the requirements for inclusion of an additional 25 thousand tpa of biorefining capacity are based on Comstock’s commercially available Cellulosic Ethanol and Bioleum™ derived fuels technologies. Sven Löchen, RenFuel’s chief executive officer says, “We are thrilled with this expanding strategic partnership. Comstock’s technologies and proprietary Bioleum products create a vastly expanded market opportunity for our technologies worldwide, where Comstock is rapidly advancing across the Americas. Comstock’s direct investment in RenFuel supports our continued growth and development as we build value for all of our stakeholders.” About Comstock: Comstock Inc. (NYSE: LODE) commercializes innovative technologies that contribute to global decarbonization by efficiently converting underutilised natural resources, primarily woody biomass, into net zero renewable fuels, end-of-life metal extraction, and generative AI-enabled advanced materials synthesis and mineral discovery. To learn more, including compliance statements, please visit https://comstock.inc  

Nästa generations vägskyltar är på intåg! ⚠ 💛 Efter tre år avslutar nu RenFuel sitt InfraSweden-projekt med biobaserade trafikskyltar för en hållbar #trafikmiljö. Deras första demos har framgångsrikt testats i Karlstad, där de har stått emot en särskilt tuff vinter med massor av vind, snö och temperaturer ner till minus 30 grader! Nu återstår bara några sista analyser innan projektet avslutas, men nästa generation av ännu starkare #vägskyltar är redan på väg! Partners i projektet är Trafikverket, Södra och NPSP . PROVIA VÄGMÄRKNING har testat skyltarna. Läs mer om projektet på vår hemsida: https://lnkd.in/dwGQcDGd

After 3 years, we are finally concluding our InfraSweden bio-based traffic signs project on a high note! The team traveled near Karlstad, where our first demonstrators have successfully resisted a particularly tough winter, with loads of wind, snow and temperatures down to minus 30 degrees! Just a few more analyses and the project will be wrapped up, but the next generation of even stronger signs is already on its way! We would like to thank our partners from NPSP , Södra and Trafikverket for their continued efforts throughout these 3 years, which are paving the way towards more sustainable road equipment. We also thank InfraSweden for giving us the opportunity to develop these materials of the future. Finally, we thank PROVIA VÄGMÄRKNING, in particular Fredrik Janson and Robin Nordin, for testing our signs and for being wonderful hosts! Igor Schjörling Lishajko Alexander Orebom Alan Saleh Zoya Zarafshani Rolf Groot

After 3 years, we are finally concluding our InfraSweden bio-based traffic signs project on a high note! The team traveled near Karlstad, where our first demonstrators have successfully resisted a particularly tough winter, with loads of wind, snow and temperatures down to minus 30 degrees! Just a few more analyses and the project will be wrapped up, but the next generation of even stronger signs is already on its way! We would like to thank our partners from NPSP , Södra and Trafikverket for their continued efforts throughout these 3 years, which are paving the way towards more sustainable road equipment. We also thank InfraSweden for giving us the opportunity to develop these materials of the future. Finally, we thank PROVIA VÄGMÄRKNING, in particular Fredrik Janson and Robin Nordin, for testing our signs and for being wonderful hosts! Igor Schjörling Lishajko Alexander Orebom Alan Saleh Zoya Zarafshani Rolf Groot

HOW CAN FUEL FROM KRAFT LIGNIN REDUCE OUR ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT? Explore the untapped potential of forests – nature's carbon dioxide absorbers, constituting approximately 31% of the world's total land area. Sustainable forest management ensures a secure fuel source, revolutionizes construction materials by replacing concrete with tree-derived alternatives, and optimizes resource utilization, turning tree trunks' unsuitable parts into valuable materials for paper and pulp production. In the paper and pulp industry, the main building blocks of trees—cellulose, hemicellulose, and lignin—are separated. Cellulose goes into consumer products, while approximately 25% of lignin in spent cooking chemicals can be extracted from non-integrated pulp mills without disrupting the chemical recovery. Integrated mills gain a reduced recovery boiler load, extending their lifespan and boosting pulp production. For a single pulp mill the lignin extraction gives an annual 12,000-ton reduction in green CO2 equivalents and the chance to replace fossil fuels with a sustainable resource! RenFuel introduces groundbreaking technology and patented chemistry, unlocking the potential of lignin in the fuel sector. This involves purifying kraft lignin to meet refinery standards and converting it into Lignol®, a bio-oil compatible with existing refinery streams. Integrating Lignol® into refineries through standard co-processing lines seamlessly replaces fossil components. The result? An impressive 83% reduction in carbon footprint compared to traditional fossil feedstocks. Lignol®-based fuel achieves a remarkable 78% reduction in fossil CO2 emissions when used in cars, boats, trucks, or planes. RenFuel's technology positions the green resources of the forest as a crucial opportunity to secure domestic fuel production while prioritizing environmental conservation and sustainability. We are actively seeking collaborations with more companies in the biomass sector, aiming towards commercialization and improved environmental impact. Join us in shaping a greener future through innovative partnerships! #NextGenerationEU #SwedishEnergyAgency #TheIndustrialLeap #Klimatklivet #RenFuel #Lignol #Lignin #Sustainability #GreenTechnology #Innovation #Environment

WHAT ARE THE SOURCES OF LIGNIN? Lignin, a key component in woody biomass, is a valuable resource with diverse applications. Its structure and properties vary based on the source of biomass and its production. Several forms of lignin can be transformed into fuel through the innovative Lignol® process. Here are a few production methods that yield lignin suitable for fuel application: KRAFT PROCESS: Primarily used in the pulp and paper industry for cellulose extraction in paper production. The process separates lignin using cooking chemicals and burn it in excess for chemical recovery. Influenced by factors such as region, tree species and mill processing methods, these aspects shape the specific characteristics of the resulting kraft lignin. ORGANOSOLV FRACTIONATION: Utilizing organic solvents to extract cellulose from all kinds of feedstocks, this method obtains a side stream with enhanced lignin quality, often resulting in lower molecular weight and increased purity of the organosolv lignin. HYDROLYSIS: Commonly employed in bioethanol production, cellulose is either removed enzymatically or using acid to leave behind a lignin rich residue. The structure of hydrolysis lignin is typically less condensed and more fragmented compared to other types of lignin. RenFuel has effectively assessed diverse lignin sources for use in biofuel production, highlighting the adaptability of this valuable energy asset. As we approach our Lignol® pilot plant, we highlight the potential for a sustainable future driven by the applications of lignin. If you hold this valuable energy source, let's collaborate for a greener and more sustainable tomorrow. https://renfuel.se/ #NextGenerationEU #SwedishEnergyAgency #TheIndustrialLeap #Klimatklivet #RenFuel #Lignin #Sustainability #GreenTechnology #Innovation #Environemt #LigninTechnology