Butanol has many benefits compared to ethanol and is likely to be the main biofuel in the future. Yeasts are likely to be used in the future production of butanol and Butalco’s yeast strains are specialized for this purpose.
Butanol is being seen as a more superior alternative fuel than ethanol due to its more favourable chemical / physical properties. Butanol has clear advantages such as significantly lower vapour pressure and higher flashpoint. Butanol is less miscible with water and far less corrosive so it can be shipped and distributed through existing infrastructure (pipelines and filling stations). Butanol can replace fossil fuels up to 100% without modifying the engine and can be blended with diesel / biodiesel and burned in diesel engines.
Butanol
Ethanol
vapour pressure
5,6 hPa
58,5 hPa
flash point
36°C
12°C
micibility with water
no
yes
fuel blending ratios
100%
10% (85 with FFV)
blending with diesel
yes
no
octane rate
96
130
viscousity
lower
high
Approach of BUTALCO
We use a special technology to modify the yeasts for butanol production. We are working together with partners to develop a competitive biobutanol production process using lignocellulose as feedstock. The development covers the whole process chain including all production steps from feedstock supply to engineering/construction and distribution.
