ZeaChem Demonstration Scale Cellulosic Ethanol Plant Over One Third Complete

ZeaChem broke ground on its 250,000 gallon-per-year biorefinery in Boardman, Oregon on June 2, 2010. According to the East Oregonian, it is now over one third complete.

Zea-Chem’s cellulosic ethanol demonstration plant is more than one-third finished.

Builders erected three 40,000-gallon fermentation tanks this week and continued bolting together the steel structure for the two-story operations building.

Excavation began last fall, and contractors poured a concrete pad for the building and other components in November.

“We really got going in late fall,” said Craig Spidle, director of the construction/design-build group for Burns & McDonnell of Chesterfield, Mo.

He said the structure is 35 percent complete and should be finished by October. ZeaChem’s 8-acre site is along Rail Loop Road on Port of Morrow land between Pacific Ethanol and Cargill.

Carrie Atiyeh, spokeswoman for ZeaChem, visited the Boardman site Thursday. She said the company will have its core process online this year, converting sugar into acetic acid and ethyl acetate.