Resynergi

Resynergi designs and manufactures a system that converts waste plastic into usable products, such as diesel fuel.  Using an advanced pyrolytic method developed by researchers at the University of Minnesota, Resynergi’s Plastic-to-Oil systems quickly and efficiently convert 1 kilogram of waste plastic into 1 liter of fuel.

Resynergi uses microwave energy in its “fast pyrolysis” process rather than standard heating.  This process heats and gasifies the waste plastic in a single vessel (reactor) within seconds rather than in various heating stages (such as solid to liquid to gas) over several minutes. 

Fiberstar

Fiberstar, Inc. is a privately held biotechnology company that manufactures and sells natural and clean, plant-based ingredient solutions such as natural citrus fiber to improve quality, health and costs in food, personal care and industrial markets. Fiberstar holds an exclusive worldwide license for bio-technology developed at the University of Minnesota.

LZL Engineering

LZL Engineering is a leader in fluidized bed and material handling technology. They offer contract manufacturing services and custom equipment to suit many challenges. LZL Engineering is involved in Center's project on nonthermal pasteurization of particulate foods using intense pulsed light technology.

Metropolitan Council Environmental Services (MCES)

The Metropolitan Council is the regional policy-making body, planning agency, and provider of essential services in the seven-county Twin Cities metro area. Our mission is to foster efficient and economic growth for a prosperous region. MCES has provided funding to the Center for Biorefining to develop microalgae based wastewater treatment technology and scum oil to biodiesel technology. Its St. Paul Waste Water Treatment Plant provided samples, logistics, and onsite facilities for our research.

Xcel Energy Renewable Development Fund

Xcel Renewable Development Fund promotes the startup, expansion, and attraction of renewable energy projects and companies across Minnesota and Wisconsin. The fund, which is made possible by our customers, also stimulates research and development into renewable energy technologies. Both efforts are designed to increase innovation, introduction, and promotion of renewable energy resources at reasonable costs.The Center for Biorefining received $1 million from the fund to conduct research on fast gasification of solid wastes to generate electricity. 

Forsman Farms

The Howard Lake, Minnesota based farm, in its fourth generation of family ownership, has doubled its business since 1998 through constantly seeking opportunities for growth. The farm is a certified Minnesota Agricultural Water Quality farm, and makes efforts to restore wetlands and continue to farm with the land. Peter Forsman, the president of the farm, said “We are proud to be part of the water quality certification program and it is important that we run our farm in a sustainable manner so that we will continue farming for generations. Minnesota is known for its beautiful lakes and waterways. Our customers are proud that we manage our farms in a way to protect our state’s greatest resource. Without clean water we all suffer.” Forsman Farms has been a strong supporter of Center’s work on treatment and utilization of animal wastes. They are very interested in Center’s technologies that can generate renewable energy for farm operations from chicken liters.

Mitsui Chemicals America, Inc.

Mitsui Chemicals America produces and supplies specialty chemicals and high-performance polymers to North and South American markets, including a broad range of Performance Compounds, Elastomers, Engineering Plastics, Chemicals & Intermediates, Films, Tapes, Sheet, and Electronic Materials. The company has a strong interest in sustainability and circular economy. Mitsui Chemical Co and Resynergi are behind a project carried out at the University of Minnesota to use continuous catalytic microwave-assisted pyrolysis (CMAP) technology to produce high quality liquid hydrocarbons of mainly olefins and paraffins with low aromatic content from waste plastic comprising of polyethylene (HDPE and LDPE) and polypropylene (PP).