Al-Pac to make bio-methanol in 2012
October 19, 2011
By
Scott Jamieson
Oct 19, 2011, Boyle, AB - Alberta-Pacific Forest Industries Inc. has received $4.5 million in federal government funds to support the company's methanol purification project at its plant in Boyle, AB.
The funding means that Al-Pac now has the approvals required to install equipment that will see bio-methanol separated and purified using a new technology developed in partnership with A.H. Lundberg. This project will be the first of its kind according to Al-Pac.
The mill already makes un-purified methanol that is burned as a fuel in the kiln to help recycle lime. The new technology will purify that methanol, which will be used in the production of a pulp whitening agent. Any remaining bio-methanol will be sold.
"Bio-methanol is one of the many products we can produce, and it is the result of research and innovation in the pulp industry," notes Al Ward, Al-Pac's president and COO.
The methanol purification project requires the construction of a building on the company's mill site to house equipment. Tie-ins to existing equipment were put in place during the spring maintenance shut-down, and Al-Pac will begin purifying and selling bio-methanol in the first quarter of 2012.
The funding is part of the Government of Canada's $100 million Investments in Forest Industry Transformation (IFIT) program.
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