Mar 09, 2009 06:00 ET
Biobutanol – Better Than Ethanol
MENLO PARK, Calif. --(Business Wire)-- Mar 09, 2009
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.
Ronald Bray, co-author and SRIC Senior Consultant commented “Due to the
superior energy density of biobutanol and despite higher capital costs,
the relative costs on an energy basis ($/Btu) for biobutanol is equal to
or slighter better than ethanol @ $2.28/gal., if the projected
performance in the simulation can be met.”
RJ Chang, SRIC’s Process Economics Program (PEP) Director, commented, “It
is estimated that over 100 companies are involved with the development
of various types of phase II biofuels such as biobutanol, including
algae based feedstocks, hydrocarbons from sugar and starch and various
molecules from lignocellulosic feedstocks.” Mr Chang continued, “Over
10% of these companies surveyed for the report are planning to produce
biobutanol.”
SRIC’s 200 page Biobutanol report provides in-depth
process technology, plant designs, costs and flow diagrams and is
essential information for technical and business managers involved in
energy production. For additional information about SRIC’s
Biobutanol report, contact RJ Chang at rchang@sriconsulting.com
+1-650-384-4307, or visit the website at www.sriconsulting.com/PEP.
About SRI Consulting
SRI Consulting (SRIC) is the world’s leading business research service
for the global chemical industry. Publishing for almost 60 years, SRI
Consulting is the preeminent source for in-depth business and process
analysis. This report was developed by the Process Economics Program
(PEP) group providing in-depth, independent technical and economic
evaluation of both commercial and emerging technologies for the chemical
and energy industries. SRI Consulting’s headquarters are located in
Menlo Park, California with offices in The Woodlands, Texas; Zürich,
Switzerland; Tokyo, Japan; and Beijing, China. SRI Consulting is a
division of Access Intelligence, LLC. Additional Information is
available at www.sriconsulting.com.
SRI Consulting (SRIC) is a trade name and a registered trademark of SRI
International, used under license.
SRI Consulting
Susan Wright, +1-650-384-4348
Fax:
+1-650-330-1190
swright@sriconsulting.com