Gevo retrofits ethanol plant for isobutanol production

In the US renewable chemicals and advanced biofuels company Gevo has started retrofitting its Luverne, Minnesota ethanol plant to produce biobased isobutanol.

'Through this retrofit, Gevo is providing a high-value products that supports our nation's agriculture industry,' says Gevo's CEO Patrick Gruber.

The retrofit is scheduled for completion by mid-2012, making Gevo's facility one of the first to produce commercial volumes of isobutanol.

Gevo became the owner of the plant in September 2010 after acquiring it from Agri-Energy. It has the capacity to produce 18 million gallons a year of isobutanol, providing jobs for 27 people.

'Isobutanol made from renewable raw materials can be used to make a variety of everyday products such as rubber, plastics and fuel and is a versatile solutions to help displace our country's dependency on petroleum and create a biobased economy,' Gruber explains.