Our Process
Location
Harvest's biorefinery will be seamlessly integrated into Lavern Heideman & Sons' existing 167-acre site in Eganville, Ontario. This strategic partnership leverages Heideman's 50+ years of experience as a trusted name in the forest products industry. Their expertise in forest management and sawmill operations ensures a sustainable supply of hardwood residue for biofuel production, minimizing both the transportation costs and environmental impact while creating a highly efficient closed-loop system.
Hardwood Residue (Wastewood)
From wastewood to high-value bioproducts: stored in large, covered hoppers, the residue is treated with a series of specialized chemical processes, breaking down its complex structure and extracting sugars for fermentation. This cutting-edge technology yields valuable bioproducts like acetone (a key ingredient in nail polish remover), biobutanol (a sustainable fuel), bioethanol (another renewable fuel source), and lignin (used in everything from cosmetics to construction materials).
Feedstock Processing
Every step in Harvest's process is optimized for efficiency. Chips are conveyed from the hoppers and meticulously screened to remove any foreign objects. The chips are then conveyed to a powerful dual hammermill/grinder, where they are reduced to fine particles, increasing their surface area for optimal processing in the biorefinery.
Pretreatment
The transformation begins: Before sugars can be extracted, the residue fines undergo a crucial pretreatment stage. Residue fines are carefully combined with diluted sulfuric acid and hot water in a specialized biomass mixer. This precisely controlled pretreatment initiates the breakdown of the fines' complex structure, preparing them for efficient sugar extraction in the next stage.
Hydrolysis - A two-step process
Unlocking nature's energy: The hydrolysis process carefully breaks down wastewood into its essential ingredients for biofuel production. First, in acid hydrolysis, high temperature, pressure, and diluted sulfuric acid work together to unlock the wood's sugars. The mixture is then centrifuged, separating the solids (which proceed to enzymatic hydrolysis) from the liquids (which move on to fermentation).
Next, in enzymatic hydrolysis, enzymes are introduced to further break down the cellulose and maximize sugar extraction. After this step, another centrifuge separates the liquid destined for fermentation from the H-lignin slurry (which undergoes purification).
Before fermentation, the liquid is detoxified to ensure optimal conditions for biofuel production. Finally, the valuable liquids undergo fermentation—the final step in creating renewable biofuels.
Lignin Purification
H-lignin is purified by removing any remaining solids. This is done by precipitating the lignin by adjusting the pH with the addition of water, followed by filtration and centrifugation to separate the precipitated lignin from the liquid phase. The precipitated lignin is then washed, dried, and bagged for shipment.
Fermentation
From sugars to biofuels: In a series of large bioreactors, specialized bacteria, thriving in a carefully controlled environment with pH stabilizers, efficiently convert sugars into acetone, biobutanol, and bioethanol. This non-stop process ensures a constant output of biofuel-rich broth, maximizing production and efficiency, showcasing the remarkable power of biotechnology.
Distillation and Bioproduct Storage
From forest to fuel tank:The biofuel-rich broth undergoes distillation, a process that carefully separates the acetone, biobutanol, and bioethanol. These valuable bioproducts are then stored in specialized tanks equipped with rigorous safety measures, awaiting transport by tanker trucks to customers eager to embrace sustainable solutions.
Control Systems
Smart technology, Precision engineering: Harvest's biorefinery is equipped with sophisticated automated control systems that meticulously regulate temperature, pressure, pH, and other critical parameters throughout the entire process. This ensures optimal efficiency, unwavering safety, and consistently high-quality bioproducts. The system also incorporates water recycling and heat recovery, minimizing environmental impact and maximizing resource utilization.
