19.07.2010 State Minister of Economics Ilse Aigner gave the go-ahead for the pilot phase of the world's first new lignocellulose bio-refinery. In Berlin, she presented a grant notification for "Renewable Raw Materials" from the Federal Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Consumer Protection (Bundesministeriums für Ernährung, Landwirtschaft und Verbraucherschutz = BMELV) to the research association in charge of the project.

"This is the first bio-refinery with which all the main components of wood can be chemically processed. Such an installation represents enormous progress in the efficient use of renewable raw materials", said Aigner.

In the pilot phase, the complete utilisation of wood will now be tested for the first time. A special method is used to separate the three main components of wood from each other - cellulose, hemicellulose and lignine. Cellulose and hemicellulose are then processed to make sugars that can be fermented and which can then be used for bio-technology applications. The lignine can be processed further to make bio-materials and adhesives or it can be used as a source material for chemicals.

The bio-refinery is to be erected by 2012 in Leuna in Sachsen-Anhalt. Well-known partners are involved in the project, including Bayer, Evonik and the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft. Back-up for the project is being provided by the Fachagentur Nachwachsende Rohstoffe e.V. (FNR), a project sponsor of the BMELV. If the positive experience gained so far is confirmed, the construction of a large lignocellulose bio-refinery would be the next step on the way to industrial exploitation of this new technology.

Contact:

Federal Ministry for Food, Agriculture and Consumer Protection
Wilhelmstrasse 54, 10117 Berlin
Telephone: 0 30 / 1 85 29 - 31 74 / - 32 08
Telefax: 0 30 / 1 85 29 - 31 79
E-mail: pressestelle@bmelv.bund.de