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Author	Topic: Butamax, Fagen announce collaboration to retrofit ethanol plants	Post a Reply Back to Topics

goldseeker Champion Author West Virginia Posts:19,530 Points:2,716,865 Joined:Sep 2005	Message Posted: Apr 20, 2012 8:52:15 PM Ignore goldseeker Report Abuse Butamax Advanced biofuels LLC, a joint venture between BP and Dupont, announced that it has entered into collaboration with Fagen Inc. for the introduction of commercial biobutanol production using Butamax technology. I do believe that butanol is a 4 carbon alcohol. Many of the properties are similar to ethanol, but butanol does have similar energy to gasoline. Butanol up until now has not been able to compete with ethanol as it cost a little more to produce it. As I recall butanol is toxic so the toxicity kills off the yeast culture which puts butanol at a disadvantage during fermentation. However, Dupont and BP have been working on this technology for several years and it appears that they may be ready for a break through. From what I understand biobutanol can be made of the same feedstocks as ethanol. So in the event that butanol does catch on, it would not really be that difficult for ethanol plants to retrofit to produce butanol. The toxicity issue has its pluses and minuses. SInce it is toxic, I doubt seriously if it would require a denaturing element which means that gasoline could be eliminated totally in the blend. Butamax was the first company to identify the opportunities and technology for cost-effective production of isobutanol through advanced biotechnology. The company announced last December the formation of the Early Adopters Group (EAG), a consortium of world-class biofuel production companies interested in becoming early adopters of Butamax biobutanol technology. In addition, piloting work continues at the Butamax Technology Demonstration facility as the company prepares for market entry with commercial production in 2014. Keep your eye on this story, as it appears that Butamax is on the verge of breaking loose.

goldseeker

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West Virginia

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Message Posted: Apr 20, 2012 8:52:15 PM

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Butamax Advanced biofuels LLC, a joint venture between BP and Dupont, announced that it has entered into collaboration with Fagen Inc. for the introduction of commercial biobutanol production using Butamax technology.

I do believe that butanol is a 4 carbon alcohol. Many of the properties are similar to ethanol, but butanol does have similar energy to gasoline.

Butanol up until now has not been able to compete with ethanol as it cost a little more to produce it. As I recall butanol is toxic so the toxicity kills off the yeast culture which puts butanol at a disadvantage during fermentation. However, Dupont and BP have been working on this technology for several years and it appears that they may be ready for a break through.

From what I understand biobutanol can be made of the same feedstocks as ethanol. So in the event that butanol does catch on, it would not really be that difficult for ethanol plants to retrofit to produce butanol.

The toxicity issue has its pluses and minuses. SInce it is toxic, I doubt seriously if it would require a denaturing element which means that gasoline could be eliminated totally in the blend.

Butamax was the first company to identify the opportunities and technology for cost-effective production of isobutanol through advanced biotechnology. The company announced last December the formation of the Early Adopters Group (EAG), a consortium of world-class biofuel production companies interested in becoming early adopters of Butamax biobutanol technology. In addition, piloting work continues at the Butamax Technology Demonstration facility as the company prepares for market entry with commercial production in 2014.

Keep your eye on this story, as it appears that Butamax is on the verge of breaking loose.

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aRBy Veteran Author Grand Rapids Posts:447 Points:300,930 Joined:May 2005	Message Posted: May 1, 2012 9:40:34 PM Ignore aRBy Report Abuse People like the fact that Butanol runs in conventional gasoline engines of all kinds. I think you can run two-stroke engines with it; it's that "user-friendly". The one thing I don't like about Butanol is the hazmat issue. Ethanol is easy cheese when it comes to hazmat issues. Dilute it with water and don't worry about it. That being said, I'm not taking my eye off the ball, goldseeker. Whatever we do to fuel our vehicle fleet with domestic non-petroleum-based feedstocks strengthens the American economy.
SilverStreaker Champion Author Twin Cities Posts:11,929 Points:2,214,590 Joined:Mar 2006	Message Posted: May 1, 2012 8:11:53 PM Ignore SilverStreaker Report Abuse Obviously, they won't be able to produce any dried distillers grains. If they are smart, they will use their waste products as a fuel source in their plants.
goldseeker Champion Author West Virginia Posts:19,530 Points:2,716,865 Joined:Sep 2005	Message Posted: May 1, 2012 3:35:01 PM Ignore goldseeker Report Abuse Two more companies sign on to Butamax technology Maybe Butamax will indeed catch on.
chemist74 Champion Author Cleveland Posts:13,510 Points:2,395,980 Joined:Apr 2005	Message Posted: Apr 21, 2012 8:27:02 AM Ignore chemist74 Report Abuse Yes, butanol is a 4 carbon alcohol. There are several different butanols, depending on whether the carbon chain is linear or branched. Butanol produced by microorganisms is usually the linear form of butanol (also called n-buyanol or n-butyl alcohol). Butanol does have a higher energy content than ethanol, is much less water soluble and more toxic to humans. Butanol was orginally produced by fermentation before the process was replaced by the then much cheaper synthesis from petroleum. The big issue is finding or genetically engineering a microorganism that can produce butanol at a low enough price. My guess is that butanol from fermentation will first replace petroleum based butanol in other applications that can support a higher price than fuel.
goldseeker Champion Author West Virginia Posts:19,530 Points:2,716,865 Joined:Sep 2005	Message Posted: Apr 21, 2012 12:08:10 AM Ignore goldseeker Report Abuse I am not happy about the Gulf incident either. But, I support efforts to create alternatives to convention oil and gasoline. Butamax could be a step in the right direction. Only time can tell.
gamechanger2011 Champion Author Wichita Posts:1,529 Points:54,190 Joined:Jun 2011	Message Posted: Apr 20, 2012 10:58:32 PM Ignore gamechanger2011 Report Abuse So Bp is building a huge wind farm SE of Wichita, a cellulosic ethanol plant in Florida. Am I the only one that isn't happy about them still doing business in our country after what they did to our Gulf? What do you think Goldseeker?