Grantee Research Project Results
Final Report: Second-Generation Isobutanol Producing Biocatalyst
EPA Contract Number: EPD09023Title: Second-Generation Isobutanol Producing Biocatalyst
Investigators: Urano, Jun
Small Business: Gevo, Inc.
EPA Contact: Richards, April
Phase: I
Project Period: February 1, 2009 through July 31, 2009
Project Amount: $70,000
RFA: Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) - Phase I (2009) RFA Text | Recipients Lists
Research Category: Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR)
Description:
Isobutanol as a Second-Generation Biofuel:A lifecycle inventory (LCI) based on the conversion of corn stover to one of Gevo’s isobutanol-based products, isooctane, was performed using the Argonne National Laboratory’s Greenhouse Gases, Regulated Emissions and Energy Use in Transportation (GREET) model developed by Michael Wang, et al. (Wang M, et al. Environ Res Lett 2007;2(2):024001 (13pp)), which showed that isooctane produced and combusted in light duty vehicles is expected to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 94.0 percent and fossil energy use by 97.3 percent compared to the production and use of conventional and reformulated gasoline.
While ethanol is a viable first-generation biofuel, isobutanol brings superior performance and economic value. Isobutanol has similar physical and chemical properties to gasoline; it has a high octane number and 25 percent greater energy density compared to ethanol. Isobutanol’s most valuable property is its low Reid Vapor Pressure (RVP) blend value with other gasoline components. Gasoline is typically targeted to the range of 7 – 10 for RVP. Isobutantol blend RVP is 3.8 – 5.2, which is similar to the premium value gasoline component alkylate with an RVP of 4 – 5. In contrast, ethanol has an RVP blend value of 18 – 22, which results in additional costs for refiners.Summary/Accomplishments (Outputs/Outcomes):
Conclusions:
Gevo has identified the rate-limiting steps in the isobutanol pathway in yeast. During the process, numerous assays that will aid future development of a yeast biocatalyst for use in the commercial production of isobutanol as the next generation biofuel were developed and optimized.
Commercialization:
Supplemental Keywords:
small business, SBIR, EPA, isobutanol, biocatalyst, biofuel, fuel infrastructure, reformulated gasoline, RFG, renewable fuel standards, RFD, energy density, gasoline, gasoline refining industry, gasoline market, imported oil, greenhouse gas emissions, GHG, host microorganism, biotechnology, biological isobutanol productionThe perspectives, information and conclusions conveyed in research project abstracts, progress reports, final reports, journal abstracts and journal publications convey the viewpoints of the principal investigator and may not represent the views and policies of ORD and EPA. Conclusions drawn by the principal investigators have not been reviewed by the Agency.