Gevo, Inc. recently announced that it has signed a joint development agreement with TOTAL Cray Valley, part of the Polymers division of Total SE, to upgrade fusel oils (a mixture liquids produced during alcoholic fermentation) from ethanol production into renewable isoamylene. Isoamylene is predominately used in a diverse set of applications, including resins, pesticides, flavors and fragrances, pharmaceuticals, healthcare products, adhesives, antioxidants, and UV stabilizers.

 

“This collaboration is a spinoff of Gevo’s chemical-based catalytic processes that selectively converts low-value fusel oils, a mixture of alcohols that are byproducts from fermentation processes such as ethanol or isobutanol production, into renewable isoprene, ketones, aldehydes, or olefins. Fusel oils from the ethanol industry alone equate to about 2.5 million tons of potential bio-based waste feedstock and this alliance will be another move towards the delivery of low carbon sustainable chemicals,” stated Patrick Gruber, Chief Executive Officer of Gevo.

 

Gevo is commercializing the next generation of jet fuel, gasoline and diesel fuel with the potential to achieve zero carbon emissions and address the market need of reducing greenhouse gas emissions with sustainable alternatives. The company uses low-carbon renewable resource-based carbohydrates as raw materials, and is in an advanced state of developing renewable electricity and renewable natural gas for use in production processes.