ABSTRACT
Butanol appears superior to ethanol due to the similarity of its fuel characteristics to gasoline, non-corrosive nature, and unrestricted miscibility with conventional fossil fuel. It is also a promising alternative to shorter chain alcohols for utilization in diesel engines as fuel blends. In addition to its use as gasoline additive and/or replacement, biobutanol application in compression ignition engines has received increased attention in recent years. The research and development on butanol production via biological processes were still ongoing until the mid-1990s. Traditional acetone, butanol, and ethanol (ABE) fermentation plants have also been restarted in China, and new ones have been built in Brazil. Despite renewed interest in butanol production from renewable sources, the bulk of current butanol production originates from chemical route using non-renewable sources. Among biological routes to butanol production, ABE fermentation is prevalent and the current industrial standard.
