A step forward for butanol

As reported, a collaboration between Energy Research Institute of Shandong Academy of Sciences (SDERI), China and Green Biologics Ltd. (GBL), UK is established for Bio-butanol Production in China. It is one more step forward for butanol production.

Biobutanol

Butanol is a 4 carbon alcohol and used primarily as an industrial solvent and can replace for gasoline as a fuel without major engine modifications. It has a lot of advantages:

• high energy content: 110,000 btu/Gal. Ethanol: 84,00 btu/Gal;Gasoline: 115,00 btu/Gal.
• 6 times less evaporation than ethanol and 13.5 times less than gasoline
• cost less than ethanol
• can be made from biomassrenewable and could be produced in distributed biorefineries scattered across the landscape

Now the questions are:

1. Why is the butanol not declared as an alternative fuel sources by government like ethanol?

2. Why aren't there more extensive research and commercialization activities on bio-butanol production?

3. What are the major barriers for its production and commercialization?