The company reports the isobutene run length and performance exceeded that of its 500-liter fermentation unit at Pomacle, France.
The process is still “below commercial metrics” and Global Bioenergies will be working on improving productivity in coming months, says Rick Bockrath, vice president, chemical engineering at Global Bioenergies. New strains and protocols will be transferred from Global Bioenergies’ laboratory to Leuna.
The company has also received regulatory approval for Leuna’s purification unit. Biobased isobutene deliveries are expected to begin in June.