B³: BIOENERGY, BIOREFINING, AND BIOMATERIALS TEAM
About B³
The B³ research team develops low-cost, scalable technologies to convert plant-based biomass—such as agricultural residues and forestry waste—into renewable fuels and value-added bioproducts. The team’s work supports the global shift toward decarbonized fuels, sustainable materials, and waste valorization.
Their signature innovation, Co-Solvent Enhanced Lignocellulosic Fractionation (CELF), is a mild pretreatment process that significantly improves delignification and biomass breakdown, allowing for efficient recovery of cellulose, fermentable sugars, and high-purity lignin.
Research Focus Areas:
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Biomass pretreatment and fractionation
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Ethanol fermentation and catalytic upgrading
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Sustainable aviation and marine fuels
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Pulp and paper products from non-wood biomass
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Lignin valorization and biobased polyurethanes
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Furfural and platform chemical production
Lead Researcher
Charles Cai
Research Focus Areas
Translating Biomass Into Real-World Solutions.
The B³ team applies foundational research in biomass processing to develop practical, deployable solutions across diverse sectors, from energy and construction to industrial manufacturing and defense. Leveraging the patented CELF pretreatment technology, the team translates plant-based waste into advanced fuels, high-performance materials, and decarbonization tools that address real-world environmental and economic challenges. Below are several key applications and partnerships demonstrating the breadth and impact of this work.
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Advancing Renewable Fuels
The team has partnered with national laboratories (NREL, ORNL) and academic collaborators to develop and model full-scale biorefineries using CELF. These systems convert poplar wood and corn stover into alcohol-derived sustainable aviation fuel and platform chemicals at competitive market rates. Modeling results demonstrate CELF’s commercial viability for decarbonizing the fuel sector.
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Transforming Building Materials
With support from the U.S. EPA, the team developed Hempcrete 2.0—a stronger, better-insulating hemp-based construction material using CELF-pulped raw stalks. The process eliminates mechanical decortication, reduces cost, and is adaptable to other feedstocks such as almond tree waste and elephant grass, expanding its applicability in sustainable construction.
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Clean, Non-Toxic Polymer Innovation
Backed by ARPA-E, B³ researchers have created a new class of non-isocyanate polyurethanes (NIPUs) from lignin, offering a safer alternative to traditional foams. These lignin-based insulation materials are produced without toxic inputs, under room-temperature, solvent-free conditions, and meet performance benchmarks for commercial building applications.
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Industrial Decarbonization
Through funding from the DOE’s Industrial Efficiency and Decarbonization Office (IEDO), the team is applying CELF to modernize and reduce emissions in the pulping industry—one of the most energy-intensive sectors globally. By improving process efficiency and lowering greenhouse gas emissions, this work supports large-scale industrial climate goals.
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Circular Solutions for Military Waste
In collaboration with the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA), the team is developing densified construction boards from military site wood waste. These high-strength materials offer a sustainable reuse pathway for otherwise discarded biomass, supporting circular infrastructure strategies within federal agencies.