Two more commercial-scale bio-refineries slated for Sarnia bio-chemical cluster

Bioindustrial Innovation Canada has invested in two commercial-scale demonstration bio-refineries for the conversion of multiple feedstocks into a range of chemical intermediates for use in the food, packaging and industrial sectors. The support goes to S2G BioChem, a Vancouver-based developer of natural biotechnology conversion processes and Origin Materials, Sacramento CA. S2G will construct a $20-million demo facility to produce xylitol (a sugar alcohol used as a sweetener) and value-add bioglycols. Origin’s facility will produce commercial-scale chemical intermediates using technology first validated at its Sacramento pilot plant. The funding was made through BIC’s Commercialization of Sustainable Chemistry Innovation fund (COM SCI) which is supported by BIC’s Sustainable Chemistry Alliance (SCA) and the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario (FedDev) BIC’s support for Origin comes through the SCA side of the COMM SCI fund, while S2G is drawing upon FedDev support. BIC did not divulge the amount of money provided to the two firms but its COMM SCI fund provides up to 30% of eligible project costs.