According to a new report this week by Proactive Investors, Sydney, Australia, Leaf Resources Ltd. (Eight Mile Plains, Australia) has lodged a new patent application for Hybritech, its platform for the flexible production of pulp and cellulosic sugars. The Hybritech platform addresses a strategic focus of paper and pulp producers, and has a U.S. focused business development campaign in the paper and pulp industry currently underway.

The Hybritech platform utilizes Leaf's Glycellprocess and allows for the switching of a common equipment train, as used in pulp production, between pulp production and the production of cellulosic sugars for bio-products.

The process can be externally or internally integrated into chemical pulp mills. In this way, a paper and pulp producer has the option of producing cellulosic sugars for bio-products or pulp, thereby adding a new flexibility to their operations. Hybritech is particularly suitable for companies with chemical pulp mill operations.

Two confidentiality agreements for Hybritech have been signed in first month, and Leaf now has a total of 10 material transfer or confidentiality agreements signed.

The global pulp and paper industry is the largest aggregator of plant biomass in the world, processing softwoods and hardwoods for pulp, paper, and fiber products. Many pulp and paper companies are restructuring their businesses to include bio projects for future economic growth and sustainability.

More information is available online.