The Catalyst Review January 2020 - 11

SPECIAL FEATURE
In 2010, Gevo acquired an ethanol plant in Luverne,
Minnesota and converted it to produce both ethanol
and isobutanol in a "side-by-side" process (Figure
3). The production rates of ethanol and isobutanol
can be varied according to market conditions, thus
optimizing the operation. The GIFT® (Gevo Integrated
Fermentation Technology) process continuously
removes the isobutanol product during fermentation.
Isobutanol is a versatile chemical that can be used
by itself (e.g., as a solvent), blended with gasoline, or
converted into various fuels, chemicals, or plastics.
Gevo is developing a process for production of
isooctane and jet fuel from isobutanol (Figure 4).
Isooctane is a high-octane gasoline ingredient that
could replace ethanol in gasoline. The jet fuel would
meet the growing demand for sustainable aviation fuel
(SAF) from the aviation industry.

Figure 3. Gevo's ethanol and isobutanol production process.

Source: Ryan 2019.

Gevo has expanded downstream into olefins with its ETO (Ethanol-toOlefins) technology. In 2016, Gevo entered into an agreement with Clariant
to jointly develop catalysts for Gevo's ETO technology. The targeted
products were propylene, isobutene, and hydrogen, each with many enduses.
Gevo was in patent litigation against Butamax (a joint venture between BP
and DuPont), which also manufactured isobutanol by fermentation. The
case went all the way to the US Supreme Court, which rarely hears patent
cases, and Gevo prevailed in 2015. The two firms ultimately agreed to
cross-license technology and end litigation. Gevo survived this ordeal but
at a high cost for a small company. Now the whole renewable isobutanolbased sector can move forward and take its rightful place in the broader
bioeconomy.

Figure 4. Gevo's process for production of isooctane and jet fuel
from isobutanol.

Source: Gruber 2019.

Gevo has or had collaborative agreements with many companies, including Clariant, Coca-Cola, Ford, Lanxess, Porta Hnos S.A.
(Argentina), Praj Industries Ltd. (India), Renmatix, Sasol, Toray Industries, Total, and United Airlines. These collaborative agreements
will help Gevo grow in various markets. Gevo is focused on decarbonizing its entire supply chain, from farm to factory to endproduct. The Biofuels Digest honored Gevo on its 2019 NEXT 50 list of "The Next 50 Companies to Disrupt the World."
Red Rock Biofuels
Red Rock Biofuels LLC (Fort Collins, CO) was founded in 2011 to produce
drop-in, renewable, low-carbon diesel, naphtha, and jet fuels from woody
biomass. Red Rock Biofuels (RRB) is a subsidiary of IR1 Group (http://www.
ir1group.com/).

Figure 5. Red Rock Biofuels' Lakeview Biorefinery.

Red Rock Biofuel's first commercial biorefinery is in Lakeview, Oregon,
near the borders of Oregon, California, and Nevada. This location offers
an abundant wood supply, access to highways, railroads, and utilities,
and proximity to the low-carbon fuel markets in the US and Canada. The
Lakeview biorefinery, which is under construction (Figure 5), is designed to
convert 136,000 tons/year of waste woody biomass into 15.1 million gallons/
year of renewable fuels. The overall yield is 111 gallons/ton. Construction is
Source: Manternach 2019.
expected to take about two years, with startup in 2020. IR1 Group LLC, the
parent company of RRB, is the engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) contractor for the Lakeview biorefinery. Wood plc
(Aberdeen, Scotland, www.woodplc.com) has a contract to provide construction and mechanical services.

The Catalyst Review 										

January 2020

11


http://www http://www.ir1group.com/ http://www.woodplc.com

The Catalyst Review January 2020

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of The Catalyst Review January 2020

The Catalyst Review January 2020 - cover
The Catalyst Review January 2020 - contents
The Catalyst Review January 2020 - 1
The Catalyst Review January 2020 - 2
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