The new system, designed as a front-end processor for Allard’s existing line of modular ethanol distillation systems, turns ordinary waste products ranging from lawn clippings, cardboard, paper, sawdust and other cellulose-based material into fermentable sugars.
Sharon Allard, CEO of Allard Research and Development, said: “The ability to economically use cellulose as a feedstock has been the last hurdle in widespread adoption of a distributed fuel production model.
”Historically, the big limiting factor for people wanting to make their own ethanol fuel has been a lack of abundant feedstock. Since everyone has cellulose growing in their yards, not only are we able to make fuel from that feedstock, we are also helping to reduce the amount of waste going to landfills.”
This system will convert lawn clippings, cardboard, paper and other types of cellulose by breaking down those materials into a sugar-water solution. Once turned into sugars, the solution is fermented and distilled into ethanol fuel using Allard’s existing line of ethanol distillation systems.
Aside from the small home-scale version of the machine, the company will also be rolling out larger versions for the commercial marketplace that utilize the same technology.
The company expects to go into production with the new cellulose processor in the second quarter of 2010, and is already planning to host a series of two and three-day seminars that will demonstrate the new process and train current and potential customers on the system.
