Zeons Corporation (ZEON)

[Knicc]

I think the process is really simple. The hydrocarbon-based oils in the soy are broken down into smaller hydrocarbons. Apparently, some of the carbohydrates are also broken down into oils. I see this process as very similar to a pet cracking operation but using biomass. The water is separated out by condensation, the gaseous products either remain in the gas state or are also condensed out into the lighter fuel. The longer chain hydrocarbons are condensed into the light and heavy fuel. The solids are all the inorganics and carbon black and can be sold as fertilizer or used as fuel. The key is the catalyst that promotes/acclerates/facilitates conversion.

JR did exactly the same thing with tires. The fuel generated was not the problem. The problem was the HUGE amounts of carbon black that are contaminated with lots of zinc and other inorganic additives that made the disposal and/or reuse more complicated. You can't resell it to the tire industry and the majority of carbon black usage is based on virgin black, not recovered. The process worked but there was not an economical solution for the carbon.

Now the solid waste residue is an organic fertilizer. The economic circle is now complete. As it turns out, making fertilizer and producing fuel on the side gets you lots of green credits under Kyoto. The business model reflects this with USSE as the green co and SPC as the power generation side.