Gevo fitting out bio-isobutanol plant in Minnesota

ERJ staff report (DS)

Luverne, Minnesota -- Gevo Inc. -- Lanxess' partner in the production of bio-sourced isobutanol -- has begun converting its production facility in Luverne to isobutanol from ethanol. The retrofit, which is expected to be complete by next summer, will make this facility the world's first commercial-scale biobased isobutanol plant. The decision to begin the retrofit indicates that the company is confident it has a viable production method and appropriate organisms.

Gevo acquired the Luverne, Minnesota plant, which has an isobutanol production capacity of 18 million gallons per year, from Agri-Energy LLC in September 2010. Currently, the plant has 27 employees.

Lanxess expects to ship the product from the factory in Minnesota by railcar to the Lanxess butyl rubber facility in Sarnia, Ontario. Lanxess has a target of using 50 percent bio-sourced ingredients for its Sarnia unit.

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Press release from Gevo