State of biobutanol -- Study detailing producers, their technology and the
market
BIOBUTANOL: THE GAME
CHANGER Biobutanol, an emerging renewable alcohol, is well positioned for
substantial future growth. It will be a game changer as: an advanced biofuel - superior to ethanol in almost
every way, convertible to jet fuel and biogasoline, a valuable established chemical and solvent, and gateway
molecule to a wide range of chemical derivatives. It can be produced at adapted ethanol plants from corn and
other grains or sugarcane and from cellulose. There is a huge existing base of capacity for potential
adaption. With diminishing government subsidies on conventional fermentation ethanol, producers looking for
higher margin derivatives are potential candidates. Waste cellulose, from the wood industry and pulp and
paper mills, will be another avenue to biobutanol production. Over a dozen companies around the world have
focused on the development and commercialization of low cost biobutanol production technology.
Butanol is a versatile four carbon alcohol, today largely
produced by the petrochemicals industry. It has an established history as a chemical and solvent, particularly for
use in paints, coatings, printing inks, adhesives, sealants, textiles and plastics. The end use for these products
are dispersed throughout the economy. Butanol is used worldwide, with current global demand exceeding 1.2 billion
gallons per year and valued at over $6 billion annually. This high valued market will be an early target for lower
cost biobutanol. Further, the market will expand significantly as inexpensive biobutanol becomes a gateway to other
chemical derivatives.
There are four isomers of butanol, with n-butanol and
isobutanol the largest volume in commercial usage. Both isomers are being developed independently in renewable
forms to be marketed as biobutanol.
The study, scheduled to be published in the second half of
2012, will analyze: the existing and upcoming producers and their technologies, the established global butanol
market in chemicals and solvents, competitiveness of butanol as a gateway chemical and its outlook in transport
fuels. The study will have two major components: commercial analysis, and technology and economic
assessment.
About the author: The
author of this study has published other multiclient studies on ethanol and biobutanol. We are pleased to
promote his study on our website.
Need more details about the upcoming
study, please contact us.
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