Cost Effective way of Converting Hemp Waste into Ethanol Fuel

This is the latest and greatest innovation in the world of cellulosic ethanol production. It shows potential for significant cost savings and proving to be even more profitable than corn ethanol.

The Atlantic Biomass Conversion System

Robert Kozak, President of Atlantic Biomass LLC (Picture from Fredrick News post)

Breaking the cellulose and hemicellulose chain has for a long time been a very expensive process. Now with research and this new system it can be done in a rather simple and cost effective manner.

For long, the most expensive part of making cellulosic ethanol has been to be able to break this molecule chain, making it non-competitive with corn ethanol. With this new technology, cellulosic ethanol can compete with corn ethanol as cellulosic ethanol is more environmentally friendly alternative.

To learn more about the basics of cellulosic ethanol and starch ethanol, see the article linked below.

Hemp Ethanol vs Corn Ethanol

What is this article based on?

• Special thanks to Mandi Kerr from The Global Hemp Association for making this information available to all and hosting special events for Hemp Industry Professionals to collaborate.
• You are encouraged to watch this video linked below and become a member GHA.

What is the Atlantic Biomass Conversion System?

• This information is made available to us from Atlantic Biomass, LLC, a small business located in Frederick, Maryland.
• The company announced in 2022, the results of Phase I Maryland Energy Innovation Institute Scale-Up project to verify the use of residual hemp biomass for the production of biofuels.
• Let’s abbreviate it as the ABC System.

What makes the ABC System Profitable?

• It utilized hemp waste that comes off as a result of growing hemp for other uses. For example, if you grow hemp for CBD, there will be large portion of the plant that cannot be used for profit.
• The parts of the plant that cannot be sold commercially and would normally be considered waste. These “waste” parts of the plant can now be turned into ethanol fuel at a low cost. This will allow the farmer to make some additional income, beyond the conventional uses of the hemp plant.

Rough estimated data as made available by Global Hemp Association, Video titled “GHA Event Hemp to Biofuel and Bioproducts System” presented by Robert Kozak (President of Atlantic Biomass LLC).

• The data above indicates the profitability of the hemp plant, to watch the video and get a detailed understanding, go to the linked video for the full presentation.

How does the ABC System Work for Hemp Farmers?

• Farmer Jon Doe is growing hemp for the flower to be sold to CBD manufacturers. Currently John Doe is only profiting from one portion of the plant which can be sold to turn a profit. The remainder of the plant is sent off to a biomass waste facility.
• With the ABC system Farmer John Doe can now turn a small profit from the biomass waste.
• How does this ABC system work exactly, lets discuss this in steps.

Step 1: Hemp Biomass Hydrolysis (completed at the farm)

Image captured from video by Global Hemp Association (link), Video titled “GHA Event Hemp to Biofuel and Bioproducts System” presented by Robert Kozak (President of Atlantic Biomass LLC).

• This is a portable hydrolysis machine that is brough to the farm where the hemp biomass (stalks/leaves) can be converted into a liquid slurry (fermentable sugars).
• This hydrolysis machine uses enzymes and rubber balls to do this conversion process (typically takes a couple hours to complete).
• Once this process is completed, the liquid slury can be transported off the site and into the processing facility where it can be turned into alcohol.

Step 2: Hemp Fermentation (within the specialized facility)

• The liquid slurry is transported from the farm and into the facility where it can then undergo the fermentation process and be converted into ethanol.
• This fermentation process is done with a specialized bacteria which converted the liquid slurry (fermentable sugars) into alcohol.

Step 3: Distillation and Distribution

• The end product is then distilled and distributed
• This ethanol has potential of being used as a biofuel in a variety of applications, such as cars, airplanes, etc.

Future Scope

With this technology, the future shows great promise. As the hemp industry grows for textiles, food, construction, medicine, etc., there is bound to be a large amount of biomass that comes off as a result.

In most cases, hemp as to be specifically grown for it’s desired use, the remainder of the plant can then be converted into ethanol.

Corn ethanol is not environmentally sustainable but most gasoline users still have corn based ethanol in their gas tank. This could be an oppurtinity to use a more sustainable and environmentally friendly alternative, as a long term solution.