ZeaChem validates its biofuels process
ZeaChem Inc., a cellulosic biofuels company building a facility in Boardman, announced Wednesday that it has surpassed the first milestone on its road to market by producing commercial-grade ethyl acetate, which proves its core technology platform.
Ethyl acetate, which has a $2.2 billion global market, is widely used in paints, inks, pharmaceuticals and packaging and can be sold to chemical manufacturers or converted in to ethanol.
"These results demonstrate ZeaChem’s ability to produce another valuable bio-based intermediate chemical on the road toward cellulosic ethanol production," said ZeaChem's CEO Jim Imbler in a statement.
Officials at ZeaChem, which is investing about $34 million in its refinery in Boardman, expect to start production there by the end of 2010. Scientists at the company are now testing the finals steps in making cellulosic ethanol.
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