Sustainable Products

The BioRefinex facilities will recycle organic waste material to produce high grade organic nitrogen and phosphate-based fertilizers. Plants require large quantities of nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), potassium (K) and, to a lesser extent, sulphur (S), calcium (Ca) and magnesium (Mg). Another 8 to 10 micronutrients are also necessary, depending on the specific crop. Every harvest removes nutrients from the soil. Organic fertilizers in particular help restore the full complement of micronutrients and organic matter needed by soils. By replenishing these nutrients, fertilizers help safeguard or improve soil fertility and make it possible to continue producing large harvests.

Biogas is produced by microorganisms breaking down organic matter in an oxygen-free environment, a process called anaerobic digestion.  The Lacombe Biorefinery will use large anaerobic digestion tanks to process agricultural waste, plant material, manure, food waste or other organic waste matter.  Once most of the organic material is used up by microorganisms for biogas production, the remaining liquid – called digestate – can be used as a nutrient-rich soil amendment for nearby farmland.  Meanwhile, the biogas that comprises mostly pure methane will be further upgraded into pipeline-quality renewable natural gas (RNG) and injected into the local gas distribution system.  This whole process reduces a significant amount of greenhouse gas emissions (GHGs).