American Science and Technology Completes Bio-Refinery Scale Up
Wausau, WI, March 14, 2016 (Newswire.com) - American Science and Technology, an emerging technology company in the bio-chemicals and renewable materials sector, has achieved a major milestone as it announces the completion of its Wausau, WI bio-refinery pilot plant scale up. The new pilot plant increase AST’s processing capacity to 2 tons of cellulosic biomass per day.
As a result of its ongoing collaboration with the University of Wisconsin - Stevens Point (UWSP), AST was awarded $1.5 million in November of 2013 as part of a $22.5 million initiative by the University of Wisconsin System institutions to assist with the bio-refinery pilot plant scale up efforts. AST also contributed an additional $1.5 million to finish the projects.
“We had to overcome a number of challenges to achieve this milestone, but thanks to the hard work of our team and our vendors, we’re thrilled about this accomplishment and the direction that we’re headed. We’ve been working diligently to optimize our technology and are eager to demonstrate its viability and flexibility with the new pilot plant,” said AST President and CEO, Dr. Ali Manesh. AST Plant Manager, John Guenther, adds “AST can also conduct many other chemical and biological processes besides our patented Organosolv process, allowing us to provide more services for any potential customers and partners who would like to use our facilities for their own R&D purposes.”
Based out of Chicago, IL, American Science and Technology Corporation has been utilizing its complete and integrated bio-refinery facilities in Wausau to develop a highly sustainable and economically viable Organosolv process to convert non-food cellulosic biomass into highly refined fermentable sugars, high purity lignin, high quality pulp, and organic solvents. Two Fortune 500 clients are currently using AST's Organosolv technology to process their lignocellulosic biomass and to develop new products. AST's cellulosic sugar and lignin are key intermediate products in the supply chains for producing bio-chemicals, plastics, bio-fuels, and nutritional supplements for food.
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