What if the secret to revolutionising biomass fractionation wasn’t breaking it down but treating it right?

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At altM, we’re proving that pretreatment can be a game-changer. Because the first step in transforming biomass into valuable materials is also the most crucial. While biorefineries have experimented withsimilar processes, we have, through our research efforts, successfully maximised the recovery of biomass components - cellulose, hemicellulose, lignin and silica into individual fractions.

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Why Traditional Pretreatment Falls Short

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For decades, biomass pretreatment has followed the same outdated playbook:

·        Harsh, energy-intensive methods designed for biofuel production

·        A complete breakdown of biomass, rather than careful separation

·        High costs, excessive waste, and limited scalability

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And to make things even more complicated? Different types of biomass require constant process tweaks, making large-scale adoption a challenge.

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A Smarter Way: Fractionation Over Breakdown

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At altM, we’ve re-engineered the traditional biorefinery.

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Instead of full deconstruction, altM specializes in fractionation - separating biomass into its key components with precision. This allows us to create high-value products, such as:

·        Rheology modifiers from cellulose

·        Adhesives from lignin and silica

·        Bio-actives from hemicellulose

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Unlike conventional methods, fractionation preserves value, reduces waste and energy, and works across multiple feedstocks without requiring constant system modifications.

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Rethinking Biomass Logistics

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Transporting raw biomass is expensive and inefficient. Our approach? Extract only the valuable components closer to the source. This cuts down transportation costs and minimises waste at the processing sites.

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The Future of Biomass is Here

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Biomass has limitless potential. By re-engineering pretreatment, we unlock it at a molecular level - paving the way for a truly circular and sustainable bioeconomy.