Vegetal refining and agrichemistry

The industrial process developed by CIMV is a world first for the manufacture of whitened paper pulp, sulfur free linear lignin and xylose syrup from annual fiber crops and hardwood. This new technology allows the separation without degradation of the three main components, i.e., cellulose, hemicelluloses and lignins, isolated from the vegetable matter. The CIMV process is a biorefinery functioning on a model resembling an oil refinery. The lignins have a linear structure that permits high reactivity with different monomers producing new polymers and new formaldehyde-free adhesive formulations. The C-5 sugar syrup can be used to produce additives for animal feeding and chemicals. The pilot plant in operation since 2006, near Reims, has given fully satisfactory results. The CIMV chemical engineering approach, proceeds by the use of classical industrial equipment. This should allow the scale up of the original CIMV concept to result in production at industrial levels in 2009.