Attis Industries, Novozymes partner to convert pulp into sugar at biorefineries

Novozymes has a broad portfolio of biotechnology to support commercial cellulosic biofuels production, and the ability to ramp up production as needed. It will supply the enzymes needed for the conversion process.

Attis, a renewable fuels and bio-based plastics innovations company, has successfully converted the pulp extracted from its patented biomass processing into high yields of sugar using Novozymes’s proprietary enzyme cocktails. These successful results have validated the planned business model at Attis’s biorefineries. The partnership will focus on improving value, yields and process efficiencies. The sugars that will be produced using Novozymes’ proprietary enzymes will, in turn, be used to manufacture cellulosic ethanol and help contribute to a growing market for cellulosic biofuels under the EPA’s Renewable Fuel Standard.

Attis and Novozymes’s initial collaboration will focus on optimizing the value of the biotechnology used in the Attis process, enabling Attis to meet the growing demand for advanced biofuels. The current Renewable Fuel Standard calls for the production of 16 billion gallons of cellulosic biofuels by the year 2022, however, the renewable fuel industry has not been consistently able to produce 1 billion gallons on an annual basis.

“Attis is very excited about forming a partnership with Novozymes for the efficient production of ethanol at future biorefineries,” says Jeff Cosman, chief executive officer of Attis Industries. “Novozymes is the industry leader in biotechnology for the renewable fuel industry and brings with it unquestioned credibility to our renewable fuel goals and also shares a similar innovation vision. We look forward to growing our relationship as we continue the deployment of our biorefineries across the country.”