Company Spruces-Up With BioOil

VANCOUVER, B.C.--DynaMotive Technologies Corp. says it has completed a series of production runs converting 100 percent softwood bark derived from spruce, pine and fir into fuel-quality BioOil. BioOil produced from bark will be shipped to engine manufacturers for testing as a clean fuel for power generation and to other potential users “with a view to establishing a market for this emerging greenhouse gas neutral fuel.”

The production test runs were carried out at the company’s BioOil pilot plant in Vancouver, B.C.

“We are very pleased with the preliminary results from our bark processing program,” said Chief Technology Officer Keith Morris. “Our feedstock testing program began two years ago when we started producing BioOil from white wood feedstock, a combination of sawmill sawdust and shavings. Earlier this year, we successfully processed sugar cane bagasse, then moved to blends of sawdust and lower value wastes such as bark, and have now produced BioOil using 100 percent bark. We will continue to optimize the process to ensure consistent BioOil quality and to maximize product yields.”

“Converting bark into BioOil is a significant milestone for DynaMotive,” said Jonathan Rhone, DynaMotive Canada’s chief operating officer. “From a commercial perspective, demonstrating that we have the capability to produce a fuel quality BioOil from both bark and bark/white wood blends is very important, opening up the entire wood residue market to our BioOil production technology.”

He added that “the forest industry has consistently told us that bark residues are a major problem for the industry as bark has little or no value and is costly to dispose of. Canada produces approximately 18 million tons of sawmill residues per year, of which 5 to 6 million ton are considered wastes and are subsequently incinerated or landfilled. This wood waste could potentially be converted to 15 million barrels of BioOil per year and represents a significant commercial opportunity for DynaMotive.”

The company has been testing its BioOil with a number of engine manufacturers including Orenda Turbines. DynaMotive is currently constructing a 10 tons-per-day BioOil demonstration plant. The company plans to build its first 25 tpd commercial demonstration plant next year.

For more information, contact www.dynamotive.com.