Csir Biorefinery Industry Development Facility

Biorefinery Industry Development Facility(BIDF) entails using biomass and inorganic industrial waste to extract maximum value from waste with minimal wastage. Thus, in addition to traditional forestry, tree, pulp and paper products, value is extracted from waste and by-products to produce high-value chemicals and other products that would help to revitalise the industry. Currently, biorefinery in South Africa’s poultry,and pulp and paper industry is practiced on a very limited scale. Wood, pulp, paper and chicken feather waste ends up in landfill sites or is burnt, stockpiled, and the potential to extract value from it, is not realised. Large amounts of greenhouse gases are released from the waste, with the associated health and environmental risks. Additionally, the country is running out of landfill space. High-value speciality chemicals can be extracted from sawmill and dust shavings, while mill sludge can be converted into nanocrystalline cellulose, biopolymers, and biogas. Through biorefinery, the BIDF is progressing towards developing light weight composites, super absorbent materials, and cosmetic additives (e.g, keratin) from chicken feathers waste that can create new business opportunities for existing players and new Small, Medium and Micro Enterprises. The Department of Science and Technology (DST)-CSIR Biorefinery Industry Development Facility (BIDF) based in Durban, works with forestry, agro processing, and other biomass industries to improve manufacturing technologies and to develop and implement biorefinery technologies to create additional high value products from their waste. BIDF has also been established to help local industry improve its competitiveness by providing access to specialised analytical and pilot scale facilities and skills that enable the more efficient use of our biomass resources, overcome significant organic waste challenges, and develop new products for market.