Green Biologics inicia la construcción de su biorrefinería de n-butanol y acetona en Minnesota

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Green Biologics Ltd (GBL) anunciaba el pasado 2 de diciembre que la construcción de su planta de producción de acetona y n-butanol en Little Falls (MN, USA) está avanzando (press release). La instalación existente, antiguamente conocida como The Central MN Ethanol Cooperative (CMEC), fue adquirida por Green Biologics en diciembre del año pasado y renombrada como Central MN Renewables (CMR). Los permisos se obtuvieron a finales de agosto y la construcción empezó a principios de septiembre.

Figura 1. Central MN Renewables (Extraído de la página web de Central MN Ethanol Cooperative)

Desde 2012, GBL ha estado produciendo n-butanol renovable a través de una colaboración en China utilizando mazorcas, cáscaras y tallos de maíz. En 2016, su primera planta entrará en operación en Little Falls con maíz como materia prima. Actualmente, la instalación está produciendo etanol. A principios de 2016, se espera que la planta existente pare para que la nueva tecnología se acople con el equipamiento ya existente. A finales de año, la planta debería estar funcionando a pleno rendimiento en la producción de n-butanol y acetona.

GBL es una empresa de productos químicos sostenibles con sede en Abingdon (Inglaterra) con una filial en USA, Green Biologics Inc., con sede en Gahanna (Ohio). La plataforma de fermentación mediante Clostridium de Green Biologics es capaz de convertir un amplio rango de materias primas biomásicas en n-butanol (Butachem™) y acetona. Dicha plataforma es fruto del desarrollo del proceso original de fermentación ABE (Acetona – Butanol – Etanol). n-Butanol es un bloque modular químico que puede ser utilizado como: intermedio para la producción de polímeros (acrilato de n-butilo, acetato de n-butilo, ftalato de butilo), agente de extracción, ingrediente de perfumes y limpiadores,… En la industria petroquímica, se produce a partir del propileno. La acetona se usa ampliamente como disolvente en pinturas, recubrimientos, adhesivos, tintas y aplicaciones farmacéuticas y alimenticias. También se utiliza como precursor de monómeros, polímeros, aldoles y acetato de celulosa. Su equivalente basado en el petróleo se produce también de manera directa o indirecta a partir del propileno.

Figura 2. Productos derivados de la acetone y del n-butanol (extraído de la página web de Green Biologics)

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