French biotechnology company Biomethodes has taken an option to license technologies developed by a Virginia Tech affiliate for converting biomass into ethanol and hydrogen.

The processes for developing bioethanol and biohydrogen were developed by Percival Zhang, a Virginia Tech assistant professor of biological systems engineering.

The school said a pilot plant is envisioned in Virginia that would refine the process for converting biomass into ethanol and other products such as lignin, which is used in glues.

John Talerico of Virginia Tech Intellectual Properties said the process has the potential to produce billions of gallons of ethanol a year.

The process for transforming biomass into hydrogen will be developed in France and will be validated through a biohydrogen fuel cell prototype and a small-scale model car.