Cobalt to build pilot biobutanol plant in 2009
California-based Cobalt Biofuels plans to build a pilot plant in the San Francisco Bay Area by next year. In early October the company closed $25 million (19.5 million Euro's) in its third round of funding. It plans to build a pilot plant producing tens of thousands of gallons of biobutanol a year.
The commercial project will be located near sources of non-food materials, such as sweet sorghum and wood pulps to produce biobutanol.
The commercial plant will be built and begin producing biobutanol two or three years after the pilot plant comes online.
Cobalt is researching the right microbes and process for turning plant materials into butanol. The company has developed a fluid separation technology that uses much less energy and reduces water use by purifying and reusing the water during production.
Biobutanol can be blended into petrol or ethanol for powering cars. It also can be used as a solvent in chemical and industrial operations.
Unlike ethanol, biobutanol is less corrosive and can be transported via pipelines. Ethanol makers have to ship their products by trucks or trains. Biobutanol also can be blended at a higher percentage than ethanol for use in standard car engines today.
The commercial project will be located near sources of non-food materials, such as sweet sorghum and wood pulps to produce biobutanol.
The commercial plant will be built and begin producing biobutanol two or three years after the pilot plant comes online.
Cobalt is researching the right microbes and process for turning plant materials into butanol. The company has developed a fluid separation technology that uses much less energy and reduces water use by purifying and reusing the water during production.
Biobutanol can be blended into petrol or ethanol for powering cars. It also can be used as a solvent in chemical and industrial operations.
Unlike ethanol, biobutanol is less corrosive and can be transported via pipelines. Ethanol makers have to ship their products by trucks or trains. Biobutanol also can be blended at a higher percentage than ethanol for use in standard car engines today.
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