PureField Ingredients Secures EPA Approval for Carbon Capture Project--Positioning Company as a Global Leader in Low-Carbon Food and Fuel Production

April 15, 2026

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(PureField Ingredients/PR Newswire) Integrated platform expected to produce one of the lowest carbon intensity fuels in the world. -- PureField Ingredients announced today (April 10, 2026) that the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has approved the company's request to begin permanent geologic sequestration of CO2 from its Russell, Kansas operations. With this approval, PureField is set to launch one of the most advanced integrated food, fuel, and carbon platforms in the United States.

Following final commissioning, PureField will immediately begin carbon capture and sequestration (CCS) operations, unlocking a step-change reduction in emissions and establishing the company as one of the lowest carbon intensity ethanol producers globally.

"This is a defining moment for PureField to meet our commitment to serve Kansas farmers and our customers in the U.S. and around the world," said Aaron Buettner, CEO of PureField Ingredients. "By combining our advanced, wheat-based feedstock with carbon capture and permanent storage, we are creating a structurally advantaged platform that delivers some of the lowest carbon fuels in the world while simultaneously producing essential food ingredients."

A Differentiated, Integrated Model
PureField operates a purpose-built, fully integrated system that maximizes the value of every bushel of grain:

Kansas-grown wheat is processed into functional ingredients used across a variety of food applications
Residual wheat starch is converted into ethanol and animal feed
CO2 generated during fermentation is captured and permanently stored underground

This "nothing wasted" model creates multiple value streams from a single input while delivering a structural carbon advantage versus traditional biofuel pathways.

Game-Changing Carbon Advantage
PureField's differentiated feedstock, derived from residual wheat starch, starts with a significantly lower carbon intensity than conventional biofuels. The addition of CCS further amplifies this advantage:

Ethanol pathway positioned among the lowest CI fuels in the market globally
Potential to achieve net-zero or net-negative carbon intensity under applicable methodologies
Structural advantage driven by the combination of advanced feedstock + CCS

Together, this represents a step-change in both renewable fuels and food ingredient production.

Strengthening U.S. Agriculture and Enabling Future Growth
PureField's integrated model with CCS creates a platform for continued expansion of U.S. agriculture and manufacturing:

Supporting local farmers with a durable demand channel for ~20 million bushels of Kansas wheat and sorghum
Producing high-quality functional wheat protein domestically, reducing reliance on imports that currently supply ~70% of U.S. demand

"With CCS in place, PureField will be able to deliver more sustainable products at scale, while reinforcing our commitment to Russell and the surrounding region," Buettner added. "It strengthens our position as a long-term employer, supports local agriculture, and creates a foundation for continued growth and investment—driven by the dedication and capabilities of our team."

About PureField Ingredients
PureField Ingredients operates a premier U.S.-based integrated food ingredient and advanced biofuels platform. From its Russell, Kansas facility, the company produces high-quality functional wheat protein ingredients and low-carbon biofuels from U.S.-grown crops. With the addition of carbon capture and sequestration, PureField is establishing a new benchmark for carbon performance across both food and fuel markets. READ MORE

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Integrated platform expected to produce one of the lowest carbon intensity fuels in the world. (PureField Ingredients)
EPA Approves Carbon Storage Projects in Midwest (E+E Leader)
EPA Issues Class VI Well Permit to PureField Carbon Capture in Kansas (U.S. Environmental Protection Agency)

Excerpt from E+E Leader: The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued two Class VI underground injection well permits on April 10, advancing carbon storage projects in Kansas and Illinois that together represent a significant step in Midwest carbon capture infrastructure tied to ethanol and biofuel production.

In Kansas, EPA Region 7 issued its first-ever Class VI permit to PureField Ingredients near Russell. The approval is also the first across the four-state Heartland region Region 7 covers, which includes Kansas, Missouri, Iowa and Nebraska. PureField will capture CO2 from fermentation at its wheat-based ethanol and food ingredient facility, transport it by pipeline roughly five miles, and inject it into the Arbuckle formation more than 3,400 feet underground. The permit allows up to 150,000 metric tons of CO2 annually, totaling 1.8 million metric tons over 12 years. Monitoring requirements extend 50 years beyond the end of injection.

For PureField, the permit is commercially significant beyond emissions reduction. The company's permit application identified access to California's low-carbon fuel market as a central objective, and the project economics depend in part on federal Section 45Q tax credits for carbon capture and Section 45Z credits for low-carbon fuel production. The fermentation process at ethanol plants produces a relatively pure stream of CO2, which keeps capture costs lower than in most other industrial applications.

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The two approvals reflect a broader pipeline that is moving, but slowly. EPA currently has approximately 400 Class VI permit applications pending review at the state and federal level. Illinois alone has 13 proposed carbon capture and sequestration projects, nine of which are under active EPA review. Each approval requires site-specific geological analysis, public engagement, and a multi-stage technical review process that typically spans more than a year from draft permit to final decision.

For industrial operators watching CCS as a potential compliance pathway, the Kansas and Illinois approvals confirm that the permitting framework is functional and active. They also confirm that timelines remain long, geology is determinative, and community engagement is a substantive part of the process. READ MORE

Excerpt from U.S. Environmental Protection Agency: Permit is first-of-its-kind in Region 7

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Region 7 issued a final Underground Injection Control (UIC) Class VI well permit to PureField Carbon Capture, LLC, near the city of Russell, Kansas. It is the first Class VI well permit in Kansas and across Region 7's four Heartland states.

Class VI wells inject carbon dioxide (CO2) into deep rock formations for long-term storage. This injection process is also called geologic sequestration. Under the Safe Drinking Water Act, EPA has authority to protect underground sources of drinking water and make permitting decisions based on underlying geology.

“This permit exemplifies EPA's support of domestic energy production and unleashing American energy dominance," said EPA Region 7 Administrator Jim Macy. "We'll continue to advance projects that grow rural economies while fulfilling the agency’s core mission of protecting human health and the environment.”

Through this permit, the PureField facility near Russell is allowed to inject CO2 generated during ethanol production into the subsurface for a period of 12 years. The company is authorized to inject up to 150,000 metric tons of CO2 per year, for a total permitted injection volume of 1.8 million metric tons of CO2. The CO2 must be injected into the Arbuckle rock formation at a depth between 3,448 and 3,606 feet below ground surface.

To ensure safety, PureField is required to test and monitor the well and the area overlying the injection zone during the 12-year injection period, and for 50 years after injection has ended. A copy of the permit and associated documents are available.

Visit EPA’s Class VI wells webpage for more information on Class VI projects. READ MORE