Technology

REACH™ Technology

Mercurius Biorefining is developing a patented technology that is potentially ground-breaking in the search for cellulosic fuels.
Diagram showing that REACH is an acronym split into RE, A, C, and HDiagram showing that REACH is an acronym split into RE, A, C, and H
Renewable Acid-hydrolysis Condensation Hydrotreating (REACH™) technology:

1) Efficiently converts biomass into biofuels and green chemicals without producing CO2 byproducts like fermentation and gasification processes

2) Uses two widely deployed and well understood industrial processing techniques; one from the pulp and paper industry and the other from petroleum refining

3) Creates an intermediate bio-crude product through the use of catalytic hydrolysis (similar to the pulp and paper industry)

4) Produces diesel and jet fuel hydrocarbons through a solid-bed-catalytic process analogous to the way the petroleum industry converts crude oil into the various petroleum products on the market today

5) Does not use enzymes or microbes therefore it is not sensitive to feedstock impurities
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The company will develop and commercialize this economically superior process to turn biomass and recycle material into liquid biofuels and high-value green chemicals.

Block Flow Diagram

Diagram of how the REACH process worksDiagram of how the REACH process works
The first step in the REACH™ process is to treat non-food biomass in an acid hydrolysis unit to create a mixture of non-sugar intermediates in high yields. The intermediates are then processed through a condensation unit into usable carbon chains. The final step is a hydrotreating process to deoxygenate the intermediates. The final fuel products are drop-in blend ready for use in the general liquid fuels market. High value chemicals are also produced and will be sold into higher value markets. The process is indifferent to the biomass feedstock and both cellulose and hemi-cellulose are processed at the same rate with the same cost structure. The process is significantly faster than many other biofuel production methods, has lower capital and operating expenses, and does not rely on food crops for feedstock.

Technology Advantages

  • High yields
  • High-value products: including FDCA, bio-char, levulinic acid, formic acid
  • Non-extreme operating conditions: low-temperature, low-pressure, does not use enzymes or microbes
  • Wide product range: cellulosic diesel and jet fuel with superb flow properties and high cetane number
  • Uses established, reliable chemical processes
  • Flexibility of feedstock, with no sugar intermediate required
  • Beneficial for fuel producers and blenders: A means to fulfill renewable fuel obligations and improve their blending economics, due to excellent blend property of products

Projects

Pilot Project

Mercurius Biorefining has successfully designed, installed, commissioned, and operated a Pilot Plant in Australia through its wholly owned subsidiary Mercurius Australia. The Mercurius Rising Pilot project in Queensland, Australia has showcased the versatility and efficacy of REACH™ technology. Specific milestones included continuous operations producing high conversion yields of CMF, chemical recovery/reconcentration and hydrotreated fuel products.
Pilot Plant in Mackay, QLD, Australia

Sustainable Feedstock

REACH™ technology is first and foremost a way to use existing waste streams including agricultural and forestry production wastes as well as lignocellulosic Municipal Solid Waste, (MSW), to create carbon negative drop in fuels (diesel, jet, marine) and renewable chemicals (Formic Acid, FDCA, Levulinic Acid). REACH™ technology is very feedstock flexible and in fact can use multiple sources simultaneously by for example using MSW sources to fill out seasonal wheat straw or corn stover supplies. REACH™ technology can also be adjusted to easily accommodate high moisture content feedstocks. A highly significant advantage that REACH™ technology has concerning feedstocks is that it taps into established supply chains and is not reliant on grown for purpose energy crops either agricultural or forestry.

Agricultural Feedstocks

  • Bagasse – the residual left over after sugar has been derived from raw sugar cane.
  • Corn Stover – the residual left over after the harvest of corn
  • Wheat/Barley/Rice Straw – the residual left over after harvesting these grains

Forestry Feedstocks

  • Wood Chips – the residual left after trimming raw trees for lumber
  • Sawdust – the residual left over after producing construction grade lumber
  • Thinning Slash – the residual left over after forest maintenance or extraction

MSW Feedstocks

  • Urban woody debris collection and landscaping wastes
  • Woody construction waste and demolition materials.
  • Cardboard and other recycled paper products.

Agricultural Feedstocks

  • Bagasse – the residual left over after sugar has been derived from raw sugar cane.
  • Corn Stover – the residual left over after the harvest of corn
  • Wheat/Barley/Rice Straw – the residual left over after harvesting these grains

Forestry Feedstocks

  • Wood Chips – the residual left after trimming raw trees for lumber
  • Sawdust – the residual left over after producing construction grade lumber
  • Thinning Slash – the residual left over after forest maintenance or extraction

MSW Feedstocks

  • Urban woody debris collection and landscaping wastes
  • Woody construction waste and demolition materials.
  • Cardboard and other recycled paper products.