Engineering firm to evaluate Tk’emlups Biorefinery

Jan.
12, 2010, Atlanta, GA – Raven Biofuels International Corporation’s Canadian development
partner Raven Biofuels Ltd and its joint venture partner Kamloops Indian Band have
hired Sandwell Engineering in conjunction with the Tk'emlups Biorefinery project, planned for the Kamloops, British Columbia, area.
Sandwell was selected because of its extensive history in the forestry and pulp
paper industries. Sandwell is engaged to review and assess the technology and
process that have been developed and tested to date for dilute acid hydrolysis
of wood to produce chemicals and ethanol. Sandwell is assessing the
applicability of this process to mountain pine beetle-killed lodgepole pine and
reviewing the application of process equipment technology to a practical,
functional production plant. It is also considering new design applications in
which a biorefinery could be integrated into a kraft pulp mill.

The
engineering firm will submit a report to identify areas that require further
focus for the final engineering package. Its findings on furfural and ethanol
yields from lodgepole pine, benefits of integrating with existing pulp mills,
and suggestions on further improvements will require further development during
subsequent phases of the biorefinery project. Further lab testing or pilot
plant runs will be required to confirm design criteria parameters for
commercial development of the refinery.