Licella, an Australian biotechnology company, has developed a hydrothermal liquefaction technology to convert forestry byproducts into biocrude. This biocrude can be upgraded to sustainable aviation fuel and renewable biodiesel, helping decarbonize hard-to-reduce sectors like aviation. Licella is collaborating with Canfor to establish a commercial-scale biocrude plant in Canada. The project aims to address Australia's renewable energy needs while utilizing vast agricultural and forestry waste resources.
The project uses Licella's hydrothermal liquefaction technology, which applies hot pressurized water to convert non-food biomass waste, such as woody wastes, into biocrude. This biocrude is then upgraded to produce sustainable aviation fuel and renewable biodiesel. The process efficiently transforms waste materials that would otherwise go to landfill into valuable biofuels. The technology supports a transition to renewable energy while utilizing local agricultural and forestry residues.
The cosmetic industry is rapidly shifting away from synthetic micro-beads and petrochemical derivatives due to environmental pollution. This multi-feedstock upcycling initiative takes diverse agricultural wastes—such as abrasive plum kernels, fragrant citrus peels, and cellulose-rich wood shavings—and transforms them into high-value cosmetic ingredients. The wood shavings and kernels provide natural physical exfoliation, while the citrus peels yield essential oils and antioxidants, fostering a fully circular beauty industry.
The diverse biomass is first segregated. Wood shavings and fruit kernels undergo high-precision micronization and sterilization to create smooth, non-abrasive exfoliating particles that won't cause micro-tears in the skin. The citrus peels are subjected to cold-pressing or mild solvent extraction to capture volatile essential oils and polyphenols. These distinct bio-components are then blended into natural, clean-label cosmetic bases.
Spruce sawdust is a massive, low-value byproduct of the global lumber industry. "SpruceSugar" is an innovative, upcycled cosmetic ingredient derived from the hemicellulose (specifically galactoglucomannan) found in spruce wood shavings. It acts as a powerful natural humectant—drawing moisture into the skin—while also providing strong antioxidant properties to protect cellular health against environmental stressors, offering a sustainable alternative to synthetic glycols or animal-derived moisturizers.
Sawdust and shavings from spruce timber processing are collected and subjected to a pressurized hot water extraction process. This eco-friendly, chemical-free extraction gently isolates the complex sugar polymers (galactoglucomannans) without degrading them. The resulting aqueous extract is then purified, concentrated, and spray-dried to form a highly stable, water-soluble bio-active powder ready for cosmetic formulation.
Honeywell and GranBio have partnered to produce Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) entirely from lignocellulosic biomass, such as wood shavings, forest residues, and agricultural waste. By utilizing non-food biomass, this initiative creates a highly scalable pathway to mass-produce renewable aviation fuels that do not compete with global food supplies. This joint venture represents a massive leap toward commercializing second-generation biofuels for heavy transport.
Wood shavings and other mixed residues undergo mechanical pretreatment and enzymatic hydrolysis to break down tough cellulose into fermentable sugars. These sugars are fermented into cellulosic ethanol using GranBio's proprietary technology. This ethanol is then fed into Honeywell’s Alcohol-to-Jet (ATJ) catalytic process, where it is dehydrated, oligomerized, and hydrogenated to form complex, aviation-grade hydrocarbon chains (Synthetic Paraffinic Kerosene).
