Ethanol Producers

Glycerin is at the forefront of a mobilization to improve the production yields of ethanol plants. Ethanol fermentation generates glycerin as a by-product and emerges from the distillation columns inside the whole stillage component. In 2008, 170 dry-mill plants in the U.S. producing a combined 9.23 billion gallons of ethanol, generated over 350 million gallons of glycerin [ 1 ]. GlycosBio is well aware of this situation and since it’s inception has invested in the means to develop technologies to convert glycerin to ethanol and a portfolio of other end-products.

What does this means for the ethanol industry? This new biological process enables owners of grain-fed plants to use glycerin streams within their plants to both increase production efficiency and provide revenue management flexibility. If both the sugars and glycerin present in the stillage are converted to ethanol, GlycosBio can increase the average production yield from 2.85 gallons per bushel presently to 3.05. With the ability to convert this raw form of glycerin into ethanol, GlycosBio can deliver ( a ) higher yield productivities, ( b ) lower operating costs, and ( c ) greater product renewability (sourcing secondary carbons internally improves overall renewability). That is something that translates directly into higher operating profits for ethanol producers.

Recently, GlycosBio validated its abilty to co-ferment unused sugars, alongside glycerin, to produce ethanol. Our scientists have also doubled the production yield of ethanol, while both increasing the reaction rate kinetics and glycerin consumption of the strain. By integrating all underutilized carbon components within a plant, additional capacity is made available to diversify co-product areas.

GlycosBio is looking to partner with ethanol producers interested in recapturing hidden capacity and improving the value of their co-product streams. GlycosBio’s focus on biotechnology as a way to augment or lead the ethanol industry towards production of “green” chemicals and products, reducing its exposure to the fuel market volatility.

[ 1 ] Monthly Energy Review, Energy Information Administration (2009)