Biofine Technology

Biofine Technology’s approach to its business is anything but traditional. The company does not see itself as simply having a single customer base; rather, it views its stakeholders as a network of interconnected partners. On one hand, it sells innovative products like clean-burning fuels, environmentally friendly deicers and carbon sequestration solutions. On the other, it creates a market for raw materials— such as waste wood and other byproducts—generated by industries like forestry and waste management, industries that previously had no outlet for these materials.

Founded by Dr. Stephen W. Fitzpatrick, Biofine Technology has over 25 years of development behind its technology, which is recognized as one of the most efficient methods for converting lignocellulose into high-value bioproducts.

The process begins with waste wood, which is refined into various products using a chemical hydrolysis technique. This process involves dilute sulfuric acid mixed with wood feed, heated to moderate temperatures. Within about 30 minutes, this reaction produces levulinic acid (LA) alongside formic acid and carbonaceous residue. Levulinic acid is further processed with ethanol to produce clean fuel, while the carbon residue undergoes pyrolysis to create biochar. This highly stable form of carbon can sequester carbon for up to a thousand years, making it a valuable soil amender and a key player in carbon credit markets.

“We are commercializing our technology to address the growing demand from customers. With strong market interest and a clear need for our products, we are confident in significant demand and success potential,” says Stephen Rigal Jones, CEO of Biofine Technology.


Biofine Technology’s clean fuel, in this regard, has been verified as a direct replacement for traditional heating oil, a fossil fuel and major source of atmospheric pollutants. This product is poised to disrupt the heating oil industry, attracting significant interest and securing large-scale commitments for the first 15 years of production.

In addition to clean fuel, the company makes a range of eco-friendly chemicals, including levulinic and formic acids, which are frequently in short supply.

It also produces a carbon sequestrant that captures and stabilizes carbon, preventing atmospheric release. This product has significant potential in the growing carbon credit market, offering a verifiable method of carbon abatement. Companies with large carbon footprints are increasingly purchasing carbon removal credits to offset their emissions, making this product a valuable asset.

Beyond product development, Biofine Technology plays a vital role in waste wood management, particularly in regions like California, the Pacific Northwest and Nova Scotia. By providing a market for waste wood, the company incentivizes better forest management practices, helping to mitigate fire hazards and environmental risks associated with unmanaged forest floor.

Biofine Technology’s product offerings are defined by their versatility and reliability. The company’s technology is highly adaptable to various types of lignocellulosic waste materials, including forestry residuals, waste paper, coconut husks, sugarcane, date palm waste and even sargassum seaweed. The flexibility in feedstock allows the company to convert a wide array of waste materials into valuable products, effectively displacing fossil fuels and chemicals and contributing to a carbon-negative footprint.

The adaptability of Biofine’s technology guarantees a consistent, reliable supply of products, an essential factor for clients seeking stable sources. Additionally, the profitability of the process, whether on a small or large scale, reinforces the company’s long-term sustainability and commitment to environmental impact.

Biofine Technology also emphasizes its potential to fill the economic and social void left by the declining paper industry in the country. With the outsourcing of paper production to other countries, and the successive closure of pulp and paper mills, many towns that once thrived on this industry have suffered significant population declines and economic hardships. To this end, Biofine Technology is repurposing these abandoned mill sites to create new industries that can revitalize local economies.

Biofine Technology represents a transformative solution to the challenges of industrial production, waste management and economic development in an era that urgently demands environmental and economic reform. With strong backing from local communities, federal and state legislators and key agencies, the company is poised to play a pivotal role in shaping a sustainable future. Its potential to drive meaningful change positions Biofine Technology as a major emerging industry and a critical player in the global effort to combat the climate crisis.