AFEX pretreatment process utilizes ammonia to make the separation of cellulose and hemicellulose in plants 75% more efficient. The cellulose in plants, once extracted and broken down into sugars, can be transformed into biofuel.

When a cellulosic material is treated with AFEX, it doesn’t need any washing or detoxification. This allows ethanol to be produced from cellulose without added supplements or procedures to aid the fermentation.

The AFEX process is functioning under moderately mild condition. The biomass is heated at 100 degrees Centigrade with concentrated ammonia. Brisk pressure release aids the process. As a result, 99% of the ammonia is retrieved and recycled. This process decrystallizes cellulose, depolymerizes hemicellulose and remove lignin from it. AFEX decreases breaking down of the sugar in the biomass.

A pilot plant could be the next phase of the project, said Dale. MBI International is their prospective company to be partners with. MBI is subsidiary of the MSU Foundation, in partnership with companies and universities. They are planning to make AFEX technology match with the needs of companies for alternative fuels.

Prof. Dale’s research is supported by Michigan Agricultural Experiment Station, Great Lakes Bioenergy Research Center and MSU Research Foundation.