Biorefining project fuelled by federal cash.

• Position: Lakehead University researcher Lew Christopher received finance from Canada Foundation for Innovation for refining project - Brief article

Lakehead University researcher Lew Christopher received $59,539 from the Canada Foundation for Innovation (CFI) for his biorefining project.

In a forest-based biorefining system, trees are harvested to produce high-value primary products--such as lumber, pulp, paper--and residues are used to create a range of value-added co-products.

"By developing new, cost-efficient and environmentally friendly technologies for value-added products from forest biomass, we will be able to replace oil-based materials with sustainable biomass-based alternatives," said Christopher in a March 15 news release.

Dr. Christopher will use the funding to purchase three pieces of state-of-the-art equipment that will advance his research into the production of value-added chemicals, materials and bioenergy.

With global competition, unstable oil and energy prices, concerns about global warming and incentives for green fuels and chemicals, the Canadian forest sector needs to implement the biorefinery concept in order to create additional revenues...