POS Bio-Sciences brings new technology to Saskatchewan

 

 

Saskatchewan’s agriculture and agri-food sector is the direct beneficiary of a successful oil extraction project at POS Bio-Sciences in Saskatoon.

 

Established in 1977 as the POS (Protein Oil Starch) Pilot Plant Corporation, POS contracts its research, toll processing and analytical services around the world to clients developing food ingredients, nutraceuticals, biofuels, animal feeds, cosmetics, and bioproducts.

 

The Biomass Extraction System Project, which is a technology new to Saskatchewan, was funded by Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada through adaptation funding. In Saskatchewan, adaptation funding is delivered by the Agriculture Council of Saskatchewan (ACS) Inc.

 

The main benefits come from the new technology capacity. “The bead mill is a key piece of equipment,” says Dr. Rick Green, POS Vice President of Technology, “It’s really an enabler that gives Saskatchewan processors and researchers access to new technology that is leading edge.”

 

The bead mill uses a cylinder containing ceramic beads to disrupt the cells of microalgae, releasing the oil contained in the single cell organism. That oil can then be processed into a biofuel such as biodiesel or jet fuel. “As an alternative fuel that would be carbon neutral,” says Dr. Green, “it opens the door for Saskatchewan to be a major player in this area.”

 

The bead mill is part of a biomass processing line, which can extract oil from yeast, microalgae and bacteria, and has attracted interest, and revenue, from companies in other parts of Canada and the United States. An Alberta company is now looking to develop its microalgae growing operation across the prairies utilizing the bead mill and processing services at POS. “It helps bring in new companies,” Dr. Green notes, “and it allows us the potential to expand the biomass industry in Saskatchewan.”

 

Not only does the bead mill help attract business to Saskatchewan in general, it also enables and supports numerous other biomass research capabilities available in the province such as fermentation, product analysis, and additional downstream processing. An American company is also looking at locating to Saskatchewan. “They would grow their product in fermenters,” says Green, “and POS’s role would be to help them develop a process for extracting and refining their biomass.”

 

Other sectors with increased potential because of the bead mill include health and wellness products, functional foods and nanotechnology. As products are developed for market, those companies would likely acquire their own units with the spin-off benefit of more new industries in Saskatchewan.

 

 

 

 

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