AustroCel plans to produce hydrogel granulate in early 2025
AustroCel plans to produce hydrogel granulate in early 2025
CEO Kalt: „AustroCel invests in the first industrial production of a new type of biodegradable hydrogel, revolutionising agriculture“
The new hydrogel granulate is marketed under the brand name Retentis®. It is based on a patent- pending innovation from the start-up company Agrobiogel GmbH, with which Austrocel has been working for years.
AustroCel GmbH, one of Austria’s leading biorefineries, plans to commence industrial production of a new type of hydrogel granulate in the first quarter of 2025. This innovative product has the potential to play a significant role in the fight against heat-induced soil dehydration. This product is based on a patent-pending innovation from the start-up company Agrobiogel GmbH, with which Austrocel has been working for some time. It is marketed under the brand name Retentis®. This industrial investment marks Austrocel’s commitment to scale this globally pioneering innovation. The 100% biological water storage granulate, made from the wood component lignin, has significant potential for future growth. It maximises the water storage capacity of the soil, supporting agriculture under dry conditions or during periods of drought.
The opening of the first industrial production plant for this global innovation marks a pioneering moment for AustroCel Hallein in the production of lignin-based hydrogels and the sustainable use of wood.
AustroCel CEO Wolfram Kalt explains, “We are implementing a circular economy strategy by optimising the cascadic use of wood and producing valuable materials from all by-products and waste products in our biorefinery. The new hydrogel is an excellent example of this approach, as the natural raw material lignin from brown liquor was previously only utilised thermally. Now we are producing a valuable product ourselves, which we expect to have significant future potential due to current climatic challenges and agricultural studies.”
Gibson Nyanhongo, Tobias Keplinger, CEO Agrobiogel GmbH: “ We are very pleased about the successful cooperation with AustroCel Hallein GmbH. The construction of an industrial production plant at the site of one of Austria’s leading biorefineries marks a decisive milestone for our company. This success confirms the innovative power and strength of our technologymand our product, which have emerged from years of development and scaling work“.
The investment volume of the planned plant for the hydrogel is about € 2 million, and installation is scheduled to begin in 2024 following approval. The biological water storage granulate produced at AustroCel from the first quarter of 2025 will be distributed by Agrobiogel, which will market the product under the name “Retentis®”.
AustroCel and Agrobiogel concluded corresponding trade and licence agreements for this purpose at the end of July 2024.
The scaling process unlocks global market potential.
The construction of the first commercial plant for industrial production with a capacity of 1,000 tonnes per year represents the initial expansion stage of a project that could eventually lead to the establishment of a modern, automated production plant with a capacity of up to 10,000 tonnes per year.
“We remain true to our motto of ‘reinventing the pulp industry with applied innovations’. Various installation sites at the Hallein plant have already been examined, with safety and environmental impact given the highest priority alongside strategic and financial aspects,” emphasises Wolfram Kalt.
Hydrogel Made By AustroCel: Dry soils become fertile.
The hydrogel consists of 100% wood, or more precisely lignin, an essential component of wood. It maximises the water storage capacity of the soil, which is particularly important in dry periods. It protects trees and plants from drought stress by forming a water depot in the soil that protects plants from water shortages and drought over several growing seasons. It is active for at least three to five years and is then converted into humus via biodegradation, which promotes the formation of a sustainable ecosystem in the soil. By transforming sandy soils into fertile farmland, the hydrogel opens up new opportunities for agriculture and horticulture. It is also an efficient carrier of fertilisers and nutrients and can be used alone or in combination with any type of irrigation, reducing water consumption and energy and labour requirements.
AustroCel Hallein GmbH is a traditional company in the Austrian pulp industry, which today is one of the most innovative producers in the sector and is regarded as one of the leading biorefineries in Austria. The company employs 330 people, has an annual turnover of over €150 million and a production capacity of up to 160,000 tonnes of cellulose and related energy products, such as residue-based bioethanol and biogas, per year. In addition to viscose pulp and bioethanol, the modern bio-refinery also produces district heating and green electricity for its own operations and the region. This means that the Hallein-based high-tech company not only supplies its own production with clean energy, but also 28,000 households with green electricity and 13,000 households with district heating. The bioethanol production capacity is sufficient to cover 1% of Austria’s petrol fuel requirements. With its specialisation in advanced cellulose products, the bio-refinery also produces pioneering innovations from wood for non-textile market applications, such as for the food industry, medicine or the construction sector.
