Gevo, Inc. (Englewood, Colo.) announced that it has signed a joint development agreement with TOTAL Cray Valley, part of the Polymers division of Total SE (Paris), to upgrade fusel oils (a mixture liquids produced during alcoholic fermentation) from ethanol production into renewable isoamylene. Isoamylene is predominately used in a diverse set of applications, including resins, pesticides, flavors and fragrances, pharmaceuticals, healthcare products, adhesives, antioxidants, and UV stabilizers.
“This collaboration is a spinoff of Gevo’s chemical-based catalytic processes that selectively converts low-value fusel oils, a mixture of alcohols that are byproducts from fermentation processes such as ethanol or isobutanol production, into renewable isoprene, ketones, aldehydes, or olefins. Fusel oils from the ethanol industry alone equate to about 2.5 million tons of potential bio-based waste feedstock and this alliance will be another move towards the delivery of low carbon sustainable chemicals,” stated Patrick Gruber, Chief Executive Officer of Gevo.