Gevo begins isobutanol production

Ethanol plant
Gevo plans to convert this ethanol plant in Luverne in southwest Minnesota to make another alcohol, isobutanol. The company will see the product to companies making rubber, paint and other products. Gevo may also sell the isobutanol as a fuel.
MPR Photo/Mark Steil

A Colorado company has started the first commercial production of a corn-based alternative to ethanol at a converted plant in southwest Minnesota.

The plant produces isobutanol, an alcohol-like ethanol, that has more uses than the biofuel. Isobutanol is used to make paint, solvents and other products, said Gevo CEO Pat Gruber. It can also be used as a fuel.

Gruber, who grew up in St. Paul and earned a PhD. from the University of Minnesota, said Gevo has contracts to sell nearly all the isobutanol made at its plant in Luverne.

"A lot of its going to go to a company called Sasol," Gruber said. "That's a $38-billion South African chemical company."

Gevo will also sell a small amount of isobutanol in the small engine fuel market, and hopes to expand fuel sales in future years, Gruber said. A second Minnesota ethanol plant, Highwater in Lamberton, is also considering switching production to isobutanol.

The world's first plant to make an industrial chemical from corn has begun production at a former southwest Minnesota ethanol facility. Colorado-based Gevo will sell the isobutanol to makers of paint, solvents, fuel and other products. CEO Pat Gruber says the market for renewable-based materials is growing.

Gevo's stock price jumped 10 percent today after it announced the start of isobutanol production. The company also plans to convert a South Dakota ethanol plant to isobutanol production.

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