8. 2008
FOUNDATION
Mission: Bringing levulinic
acid to the market by
technology innovation
2014
ORGANIZATION
Key personnel from global
leaders enforce GFBiochemicals
to further develop the
technologies
2016
GROWTH
Capacity increase
Capacity 4,500 MT
2009
FACILITY
Lease Caserta plant to
develop and demo
breakthrough technologies
2015
PRODUCTION START
Commercial production of
levulinic acid starts July 2015
Capacity 1,200 MT
2017
CAPACITY
Capacity increase
Capacity 10,000 MT
2013
NEW FUNDS
New investor and
rebranding Green
Future to
GFBiochemicals
2019
EXPANSION
New world-scale facility
Capacity 50,000 MT
Focused and dedicated to levulinic acid since 2008
15. MAKING LEVULINIC ACID HAPPEN
GFBIOCHEMICALS
TECHNOLOGY
Aris de Rijke, Director
Technology & Engineering
16. Levulinic Acid production history
LEVULINIC ACID
Biobased Route Traditional Route (Oil)
3-step route from hemicellulose
GFBiochemicals
1-step route from cellulose 5-step route from OIL
BUTANE/BENZENE
SUCCINIC ACID
ACETYL SUCCINATE
MALEIC ACID
ANHYDRIDE
FURFURAL FURFURYLALCOHOL
17. Levulinic acid production at industrial scale
Challenges
GFBiochemicals levulinic acid
technology
› Handling biochar and tar
› High purity levulinic acid
› Enables continuous operation
› Innovative recovery/purification
technology
› Low carbon footprint
− 1-step conversion
− Energy generation from own char
− High conversion yield
scale-up
18. Biochar
Steam
Energy Recovery
Levulinic acid
Cellulosic Biomass
Pre-treatment Reactor Flash
Filter
Solid/Liquid
Separation
Product
Recovery &
Concentration
Final
Purification
Steam
• Tested on large-scale in Caserta
• High and robust operational reliability
• Favorable scale-up economics
Continue R&D investment to maintain leadership and assure future growth
Proprietary Technology
GFBiochemicals breakthrough technology since 2008
19. GFBiochemicals proprietary technology
GFBiochemicals filed patents
GFBiochemicals patents in
preparation
› Levulinic acid compositions
› Isolation and purification of levulinic
acid (multiple patents)
› Trade secrets
› Production and recovery
technology of levulinic acid
› Ongoing technology innovation
“Innovation demands creative individuals who can dream new ideas and
turn them into reality” *
*as written on the wall of Niall McLaughlin’s building for Cranfield University
24. Levulinic acid in Flavors and Fragrances
› Has a creamy whiskey-like odor
› Adds caramel and maple flavors
› The esters are used for fruity flavors
and fragrances
› Inhibits microbial growth
25. › Renewable biobased ingredient for
perfuming and skin conditioning
› Alternative preservation system
› Levulinic acid and its salts are used
in organic and natural cosmetic
formulations
Levulinic acid for Personal Care
& Beauty Products
26. High performance Coatings with levulinic acid
› Improves processability and reduces VOC in
coatings such as latex and polyester
› Diphenolic acid (DPA) can replace bisphenol
A (BPA) providing better crosslinking and
durable impact resistance
› Methyl Butanediol (MeBDO) derived from
levulinic acid improves the durability of
polyester coating resins
27. High performance PHA’s with levulinic acid
› Performance material for the production of
PHA co- and terpolymers, such as PHB3HV
and PHB3HV4HV
› Co-nutrient during PHB production with
metabolically engineered strains
› Yield improvement and composition design
for crystallinity and property control