Modeling of optimal biomass supply chain for the productions of energy, chemicals and materials in Southwestern Ontario

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Omtec Inc. is a local Ontario company that seeks continuous improvements and innovations in producing high quality bio-based products. Their current bio-product portfolio includes bio-filler, fuel briquettes and a greenhouse system that uses the produced fuel briquettes to supply heat and electricity at the same time. Both the renewable fillers and fuels are made from wheat straw, an abandoned agricultural biomass resource. Under the proposed project, process engineering researchers at the University of Waterloo will work closely with Omtec Inc. to diversify its product portfolio and explore new energy, chemical and material product pathways based on wheat straw as a feedstock. This undertaking will not only help Canadian farmers increase their revenue streams, it will also accelerate global trends that encourage the substitution of fossil resources for energy, chemicals and materials production. The proposed project will involve modeling and optimization of the biomass supply chain. A comprehensive mathematical programming model will be developed and implemented in the General Algebraic Modeling System (GAMS). A user friendly interface will also be prepared to help Omtec Inc. to assess potential economic and environmental outcomes from their current manufacturing process. This will allow Omtec to make systematic financial investments in new production strategies while minimizing the company's financial risk. On a broader scale, this effort will open up new commercial opportunities for the Canadian farming industry, as well as the growing biomass-based product manufacturing sector.