NIPPON STEEL ENGINEERING CO., LTD. is engaged in the development of ethanol conversion technology using biomass (cellulose, waste materials) that does not compete with food as a raw material.

Cellulosic ethanol conversion equipment　- CellEtha™ -

We have developed ethanol conversion technology that uses non-edible, cellulosic biomass such as grass and wood as a raw material. We have verified that approximately 270 liters of ethanol can be produced from one ton of biomass feedstock (bagasse). In fiscal year 2024, we delivered cellulosic ethanol conversion equipment to Research Association of Biomass Innovation for Next Generation Automobile Fuels (raBit).

Tangerine juice residue-to-ethanol conversion equipment

We have developed ethanol conversion technology that uses the waste residue from tangerine juice production as a raw material, and we have demonstrated ethanol production using commercial-scale equipment.

tangerine juice residue-to-ethanol conversion equipment

Food waste-to-ethanol conversion equipment

We have developed a highly-efficient system for selectively converting the large amounts of sugar and carbohydrates contained in food waste (kitchen refuse) to ethanol. We have verified that we can produce approximately 500 liters of ethanol from 10 tons of food waste through demonstration testing.

food waste-to-ethanol demonstration testing equipment (supported by NEDO)

On-site Enzyme Production Equipment　- CellEzyme™ -

We have jointly developed an on-site enzyme production technique with Kao Corporation, using enzyme-producing bacteria that can efficiently decompose inedible biomass. Typically, saccharification enzymes required for the utilization of non-edible biomass are supplied off-site and transported by truck or ship to biorefinery plants, where the biomass is converted into ethanol or chemical products. We propose an on-site supply system, in which enzymes are produced directly within the biorefinery premises using proprietary enzyme-producing strains, enabling efficient and direct enzyme delivery.