RE: G2BioChem ComparisonLignol is much farther ahead for a variety of reasons.
It already has a functioning cellulosic pilot plant and has advanced its lignin derivative business model to the point of having distributed some of those products to commercial users.
In addition , in 2008, Lignol acquired and modified a solvent based pre-treatment technology originally developed by a subsidiary of General Electric (“GE”). Lignol also acquired the original GE pilot plant that is now being integrated with recently developed process capabilities to convert cellulose to ethanol as well as high purity lignin..
Pretreatment is critical to the efficiency of cellulosic production of ethanol.
Not only does it maximize the bioconversion efficiency but the better pretreatments also minimize the production of inhibitory compounds.
Cellosic ethanol production in standard format..............the lignin ( about 35 % of the dry biomass/65 % cellulosic ) is used as a fuel...............has 3 times the net energy production as corn-based ethanol which must use petro-based fuels ( ie gas, coal etc ).
It also has a much greener footprint.
That is why we are now seeing a mass conversion of existing corn-based ethanol producers to cellulosic production.
As a stand-alone, Lignol has equal stature with the other cellulosic aspirants.
But, with its focus on producing high purity lignin products with ethanol as the by-product credit, it stands well above the pack.
In addtion, it is located near the huge waste forest biomass in B.C which is being devastated by the pine beetle and unsutable for pulp and paper.
Of course, if oil goes thru $150, all cellulosic producers will be profitable regardless of technique.