For more than 10 years, the BTL works in valorizing lignocellulosic residues using a thermochemical approach aiming at the conversion of structural molecules (such as cellulose and hemicelluloses) into simple sugars so that they can be used for the production of different biofuels targeted at transportation sector.

For more than 10 years, the BLT team has worked on different complementary ways to valorize lignocellulosic biomass to produce different added value biosourced chemical compounds. Year after year, the team has deepen its expertise, especially in the synthesis pathways including furanes and their derivatives.

Thanks to a close collaboration with its partners, the BTL has settled different process aiming at the production and the characterization of alkanes generated from lignocellulosic biomass but also from other residual material such as plastics and tires.

In order to address the Clean Fuel Standard and to answer its partners expectations, the BTL has developed an expertise in the production and characterization of pellets destined to be used as solid biofuels. In addition to contributing to the development of third generation pellets, the BTL works on the development of different approach to valorize lignin, an important challenge for biorefineries.

For more than 5 years, the BTL and its team are working on the chemical valorizing of renewable electricity. Using this approach, electricity is converted into fuels or chemical commodities using CO2 as carbon source.  This approach allow to solve two problems (GHG and renewable electricity excess) by offering a solution that could contribute to the production of fuels targeting road, heavy and air transport.

In close collaboration with its partners, the BTL is now developing a unique approach allowing to integrate carbon sourced from lignocellulosic biomass into a classical anaerobic digestion. Regarding the worldwide expansion of biomethane market, as well as in Quebec, this technology will soon be able to represent a new approach in valorizing lignocellulosic biomass.

Since 2019, the BTL has been involved into different technologies destined to the food sector, but more precisely, in the maple syrup industry. This action implies some works in the fields of fermentation and distillation of alcoholic beverages, in order to address the activity resurgence in this sector in North America.

The BTL possesses an important amount of analytical equipment dedicated to biomass analysis, and characterization of solid, liquid or gaseous biofuels made from it. Still, there is an increasing need from BTL’s parterns to adapt diverse technologies in order to make them available inline, in close relation with processes, specially those developed by the BTL.