Isobutanol shines through as best fuel for boaters

Test results have demonstrated the potential of Gevo's isobutanol for use in the marine sector.

The National Marine Manufacturers Association (NMMA) has carried out two studies to assess the effects of fuel containing butanol in marine environments.

The project, set up to compare isobutanol and ethanol blends and their impacts on the boating industry, included an emissions test and a product test.

To examine emissions, fuel comprising 16.1% isobutanol was tested against indolene, the standard petrol used for engine testing. The results showed the fuel blended with isobutanol emitted less carbon monoxide than indolene. There was little difference of hydrocarbon and nitrogen oxide emissions between the two fuels.

Gevo's COO Chris Ryan says: 'Isobutanol is compatible with all gasoline engines and infrastructure like pipelines and fuel pumps. These benefits make it a very promising biofuel additive that can help the nation achieve greater energy independence.'

Additionally, the test highlighted that isobutanol posses a number of significant benefits over ethanol-blended petrol. Isobutanol can be blended intro petrol at higher percentages and, unlike petrol blended with ethanol, isobutanol blends do not cause phase separation when water enters a boat's fuel system.

'We know E15 causes significant damage to boat engines and therefore rushing it to market is irresponsible and an unnecessary stop, especially in light of the promising test results on isobutanol,' says NMMA president Thom Dammrich.