Browse > Home / Research / New butanol process unveiled by Washington University research team

New butanol process unveiled by Washington University research team

January 25, 2008

In Missouri, researchers have developed a new process for butanol production. The research team at Washington University, led by Lars Angenent, assistant professor of energy, environmental and chemical engineering, uses fiber by-products of ethanol production from the USDA research facility in Peoria, Illinois as feedstock. A culture of thousands of different microbes are used to convert the biomass into butyrate, which is then fermented into butanol.

Earlier this week, Gevo announced it has acquired an exclusive license for use of UCLA’s method for modifying E.coli bacteria, that will improve its ability to mass produce next-gen biofuels such as butanol.

Gevo said that the technology will allow it potentially to retrofit existing ethanol plants to produce butanol, at a low capital cost, and will speed up the commercialization of butanol by several years.

  • Washington University advances pilot butanol project with $425,000 USDA grant
    • In Missouri, researchers at Washington University have received a $425,000 grant from the US Department of Agriculture for a pilot butanol project. The university's International Center for Advanced R...
  • DuPont discusses biofuels strategy: improving ethanol yields, new feedstocks, new fuels
    • DuPont unveiled a three-stage biofuels strategy, including: improving the yield of grain ethanol production; developing cellulosic ethanol technologies; and its butanol partnership with BP. DuPont ...
  • USDA awards $884,000 to Washington state research team for production of petro-like phenols in poplar trees
    • In Washington State, the USDA awarded $840,000 to a Washington State University research team to develop means of generating phenols in poplar trees. Phenols have similar properties to petrochemicals....
  • DuPont, BP, report Bu16 blends cause pass engine tests; on track for commercial butanol production by 2010
    • In England, DuPont and BP announced that test results showed that Bu16, a blend of 16 percent biobutanol and 84 percent gasoline, caused no harm to engines and did not "phase separate" in engine testi...
  • Arizona State researchers develop kerosene aviation fuel from algae; UVa team improves algae yields 40 percent in new process
    • A research team from Arizona State University has received $3 million from Heliae Development and Strategic Research Group, for a process that creates a kerosene-like aviation fuel from algae. The gro...
  • Syntec producing 110 gallons of alcohols per tonne of biomass in research
    • In Washington state, Syntec Biofuel announced that it has sustained conversion rates of greater than 110 gallons of alcohols per ton of biomass, using its proprietary thermo-chemical process and catal...

    Written by Jim Lane · Filed Under Research 

    Comments

    Got something to say?

    You must be logged in to post a comment.