PHILADELPHIA, PA — Lallemand Biofuels & Distilled Spirits and Braskem are introducing a technology platform that enables U.S. corn ethanol producers to manufacture renewable bio-acetone alongside ethanol, creating a potential new revenue stream without reducing ethanol production, the companies announced.
The platform combines Lallemand’s proprietary yeast technology with Braskem’s bio-acetone separation process, following five years of joint development and validation. Braskem will market and sell all bio-acetone produced, while the companies noted the product will serve an established global acetone market exceeding 8 million metric tons annually.
The companies explained they engineered a yeast strain that produces bio-acetone during fermentation without affecting ethanol production performance. Braskem developed a bolt-on recovery system that separates the bio-acetone from ethanol, allowing existing facilities to add the coproduct.
Craig Ammann, vice president of business development at Lallemand Biofuels & Distilled Spirits, described the technology as a way to help ethanol producers diversify revenue and reduce exposure to market volatility.
“LBDS has served ethanol producers for decades and we continuously look for options to help boost their bottom lines and shield them from market volatility,” Ammann said. “This is a unique way to do that, based on strategic partnerships.”
Braskem will oversee commercialization and market development for the renewable acetone. According to the companies, bio-acetone is a drop-in replacement for petroleum-derived acetone and can be used in products including cosmetics, paints and coatings, acrylics, adhesives and personal care items.
“The team at LBDS brought their expertise in yeast and their extensive knowledge of the ethanol industry, complemented by our experience in chemicals and bioproducts, to make this collaboration a success,” Cirilo Vieira, business development director for renewables and biochemicals at Braskem, said.
The companies added that the bio-acetone is produced from renewable feedstocks, is free of benzene and phenol, and can be verified as renewable through carbon-14 testing.
Support the local news that supports Chester County. MyChesCo delivers reliable, fact-based reporting and essential community resources—free for everyone. If you value that, click here to become a patron today.