Brazilian GranBio, Belgian Rhodia team up to produce biobutanol

Aug 14, 2013 - Brazilian biotechnology company GranBio and Rhodia, part of Belgian chemicals group Solvay (EBR:SOLB), this week said they will build the world's first biomass-based n-butanol producing plant in Brazil.
The plant, which is seen as a key step for GranBio and Rhodia in the manufacturing of chemicals made from renewable sources, will start operations in 2015. The investment in the plant requires approval by the companies' boards. Also, the structure of the agreed partnership will be submitted for clearance by Brazil's antitrust body Cade.
The bio n-butanol is made from sugar cane straw and bagasse, the same raw material that is used to manufacture second-generation ethanol and which is abundant in Brazil. An essential chemical in the production of acrylates and methacrylates, n-butanol is widely used in the paint and solvent industries, in which Solvay is South America's market leader.

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