What is Biobutanol?

We are all aware that the search for alternative fuel these days is imperative. However, while we are familiar with ethanol, there is a new fuel type which is acclaimed to be a whole lot better than ethanol and this is Biobutanol.

Biobutanol has a number of important advantages as a fuel over ethanol. It has a higher energy value and is more hydrophobic so it can be transported via existing pipelines within the petroleum based fuel infrastructure. Biobutanol can also be added to gasoline at a higher level without engine modification, and it is believed to have application in both diesel and gasoline blends. Today, SRI Consulting (SRIC) published its new Biobutanol report, providing comprehensive results on the technological and economic aspects of producing biobutanol via two new processes.

The first process evaluated is a modification of the established acetone-butanol-ethanol (ABE) fermentation developed by the University of Illinois. The second process is based on the production of isobutanol (2-methyl-1-propanol) by a proposed solvent-tolerant microorganism with a proprietary recovery process based on conversion of a corn dry mill. Neither process is commercial but is in the process demonstration phase. For a benchmark, the report evaluates ethanol production by corn dry milling.

(Source) Press