PureField Ingredients opened its 150,000 tonnes per year carbon capture and sequestration facility Tuesday with a ribbon-cutting ceremony attended by federal, state and local officials.
The facility will allow PureField to produce one of the lowest-carbon-intensity fuels at commercial scale in the United States, targeting negative or near zero GREET CI scores across its production pathways.
U.S. Representative Tracey Mann, EPA Region 7 Regional Administrator Jim Macy, Kansas Wheat Chief Executive Officer Justin Gilpin, Russell Mayor Jim Cross and PureField CEO Aaron Buettner spoke at the event. Kansas farmers and community members also attended.
“The successful delivery of our CCS facility shows what is possible when private investment, strong public-sector partnership and the support of a local community come together,” Buettner said. “It lays the foundation for PureField’s next phase of growth — one that will strengthen demand for Kansas wheat and sorghum, support American manufacturing, rural jobs and local farmers.”
The facility captures carbon dioxide generated during ethanol fermentation, compresses it and transports it through a dedicated pipeline to a Class VI injection well six miles away. The carbon dioxide is stored permanently in a deep geologic formation.
The U.S. EPA permitted the project under its Class VI Underground Injection Control program after a three-year review. PureField will operate the system under continuing oversight from EPA and other state and federal regulators.
PureField’s Russell facility transforms locally grown wheat and sorghum into functional food ingredients, low-carbon renewable fuel and animal feed. The company said the carbon capture facility creates higher-value markets for local farmers who produce high-quality grain.
At the event, PureField announced it had launched planning for an expansion to double its ethanol production and carbon sequestration capacity. The company said the expansion reflects its long-term commitment to increasing demand for Kansas-grown wheat and sorghum.
