QCCP, Taurus Energy in XyloFerm trials for distiller’s grains — will advanced yeasts prove out?

In Sweden, Taurus Energy advises that Syngenta and Quad County Corn Processors are planning XyloFerm trials for their Cellerate system,  a process that allows for production of cellulosic ethanol from corn kernel fiber, marketed in a collaboration between Syngenta, with US Seed headquarters in Minnesota, and Quad County Corn Processors (QCCP), Galva Iowa. Production gains may be boosted even further by the addition of a co-fermenting (C5/C6) yeast to the process – hence the XyloFerm trials which will commence as soon as regulatory approvals are in hand — expected by January 2017.

Meanwhile, Taurus said that a comparative study of Distillers Grains produced using XyloFerm and unmodified yeast, respectively, for use in animal feed is underway with QCCP. The comapny added that work with the Brazilian technology center has resumed and trials are being performed at both locations . The trials are part of the technology center’s efforts to create a model for the production of second generation ethanol, and is hence a long term project. As previously mentioned, Taurus is viewing the collaboration as a good showcase for XyloFerm on the Brazilian market.

The company could not yet update on whether whether Taurus’ yeast strain and Lallemand BDS’s delivery model is right for Sweetwater Energy, in another collboration — the process remains under development.

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