Oct 17, 2009. Songyuan city, Jilin Province—the appraise meeting for Butanol Production from fermentation of straw hemicelluloses project was held in the pilot plant jointly built by IPE and Songyuan Ji’an Butanol Company.

Butanol is considered as a better fuel additive than ethanol because of its non-water-soluble, low vaporization point and higher heat ratio. Compared to the traditional butanol production from corn and wheat, the project group, headed by Professor Hongzhang Chen, found a new process of butanol production from fermentation of straw hemicelluloses hydrolysate. Thanks to their rich research experiences in straw application, the project group was able to set up a 600t/a fuel butanol pilot plant together with Songyuan Ji’an Butanol Company to demonstrate the economic and social benefits it may bring.