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Leaf Resources Ltd lodges patent for silica extraction from plant waste

Published: 03:30 02 Jun 2016 BST

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Leaf Resources Ltd (ASX:LER) has filed a provisional Australian patent application for a process that extracts silica from organic material such as agricultural waste or biomass.

Some agricultural wastes, like rice husk, contain an attractive source of silica. Post extraction, the biomass can be applied in Leaf's Glycell™ process.

Silica is extensively used in the $300 billion per annum microchip industry as well as for special metals and alloys.

Rice husk after silica extraction is potentially a new, large and economical biomass resource for Leaf Resources’ GlycellTM process.

Agricultural waste, including rice husk and straw, can be used in Leaf’s process to extract silica. Around 770 million tonnes of rice husk are available in Asia alone.

In a boost to Leaf’s prospects, the remaining biomass, after extraction of silica, can be used in Leaf’s patent-pending Glycell™ process. Glycell™converts plant biomass into cellulosic sugars, a feedstock for the petrochemicals industry.

This process produces cellulosic sugars at under $50 per tonne (including co-products), versus $220 for corn starch, the cheapest alternative.

The silica extraction process applied for has been developed by Leaf jointly with an unnamed third party. This party, too, owns certain rights to this technology.

However, Leaf owns the entire rights to the Glycell™ technology.

Leaf held $790,000 cash as at end March, 2016.

The company has requested a trading halt to finalise a placement of shares. 

 

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