A Chinese expert has developed a new technique to produce biomass graphene material from the cellulose in corn cobs. The technology has already been put into mass production, creating a considerable output value, Science and Technology Daily reported on May 16.

The new technique, developed by a team from Heilongjiang University, revolutionizes traditional methods, which are hindered by long production periods and limited production capacity, in addition to producing environmental pollutants. The graphene material extracted from biomass is high quality and performs well in electrical conductivity.

Early in 2014, the team, led by Professor Fu, established the world’s first line for mass production of graphene with an annual output of 20 tons. It was expanded to 100 tons annually in 2016.

In China, the yearly output of corn cobs among all biomass can reach as much as 100 million tons, most of which comes from northeast China, Shandong province and Hebei province. The product line, supported by biomass graphene materials with a yearly output of 100 tons, can create an output value of 300 to 500 million RMB (between $43.6 million and $72.7 million).