Green Biologics starts the construction of its n-butanol and acetone biorefinery in Minnesota

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Green Biologics Ltd (GBL) announced on 2nd December that the construction of its biobased n-butanol and acetone manufacturing facility in Little Falls (MN, USA) is moving forward (press release). The existing manufacturing site, formerly known as The Central MN Ethanol Cooperative (CMEC), was acquired by Green Biologics in December 2014 and re-named Central MN Renewables (CMR). Permitting was completed in late August and the construction began on September 1.

Figure 1. Central MN Renewables (Extracted from Central MN Ethanol Cooperative web page)

Since 2012, GBL has been producing renewable n-butanol through a collaboration in China utilizing corn cobs and corn stover as a feedstock. In 2016, its first plant will come on line in Little Falls utilizing corn as a feedstock. Currently, the facility is running in full ethanol production mode. In early 2016, it is expected that the plant shuts down while the new technology is tied in to the existing equipment. By the end of the year, the plant should be in full production of n-butanol and acetone.

GBL is a renewable chemicals company based in Abingdon (England) with a wholly owned US operating company, Green Biologics Inc., based in Gahanna (Ohio). Green Biologics’ Clostridium fermentation platform converts a wide range of sustainable feedstocks into n-butanol (Butachem™) and acetone. This platform is fruit of the development of the original ABE (Acetone – Butanol – Ethanol) fermentation process. n-Butanol is a building block chemical that finds applications as production intermediate for polymers (butyl acrylate, butyl acetate, dibutyl phthalate), extracting agent, perfume and cleaner ingredient,... In the petrochemical industry, it is produced from propylene. Acetone is used extensively as a solvent in paints, coatings, adhesives, inks, pharmaceutical and food applications. It is also used as an intermediate in the production of monomers, polymers, aldol chemicals and cellulose acetate. Its petroleum based counterpart is also produced directly or indirectly from propylene.

 
Figure 2. Acetone and n-butanol downstream derivative products (extracted from Green Biologics web page)

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