NREL researchers have successfully modified a world-class cellulosic ethanol fermentation organism, Zymomonas mobilis, to produce 2,3-butanediol (BDO) at high titer and yield in the absence of ethanol.<\/p>\n
BDO is a useful intermediate from sugar fermentation and can then be catalytically upgraded to a variety of hydrocarbon fuel precursors and valuable chemical co-products from six- and five-carbon cellulosic sugars. BDO is not only a potential bulk chemical building block molecule, but also can be deoxydehydrated to butenes, which can be oligomerized in high yields to gasoline, diesel, and jet fuel. The novel elimination of ethanol production by Zymomonas mobilis changes the landscape of this technology, permitting a simplified downstream product separation process which greatly impacts the overall process cost reduction goals.<\/p>\n
Competitively, what gives this technology an edge?<\/p>\n
This technology breakthrough represents a simplified process configuration with wide-ranging flexibility and cost-effectiveness. Techno-economic modeling performed by NREL indicates a strong potential to economically produce diesel- and jet fuel-range molecules, while diverting a portion of the BDO intermediate to a wide range of large-market co-product applications including solvents, polymers, and chemical feedstocks. Producing bioproducts, including biobased chemicals, alongside biofuels will bring down the price per gallon, allowing biofuels to be price-competitive.<\/p>\n
What stage of development is this technology at right now?<\/p>\n
Contact for licensing information.<\/p>\n