Global Bioenergies will hand over the first batch of renewable gasoline to automobile major Audi.
The delivery is slated to be made to the automaker on May 21 in Pomacle in France.
The first batch of isobutene has been derived from corn-derived glucose at Global Bioenergies' industrial pilot in Pomacle-Bazancourt, near Reims in France. It had been supplied to the chemical company Arkema early this month.
Consequently, these isobutene have been converted into isooctane by Fraunhofer Institute at Leuna refinery near Leipzig where Global Bioenergies is setting up its demo plant.
Global Bioenergies CEO Marc Delcourt said: "This first batch of renewable gasoline represents a historic milestone. It is the kickoff of a new, large scale, and decentralized industry which respects the environment and will gradually substitute traditional fossil hydrocarbons."
Isooctane, which is an additive used to improve the quality of gasoline, is capable of acting as a standalone fuel. It has achieved the standard form that could be brought within the ambit of octane rating. Besides, its pure form can be dubbed "unleaded 100".
Global Bioenergies employs a technology which yields a gaseous product in the liquid phase during fermentation. This is known to reduce complexity and cut energy demand during conversion to isooctane.
Audi head of sustainable product development Reiner Mangold said: "The confirmation that Global Bioenergies' renewable isobutene is compatible with a commonly used fossil isobutene to isooctane conversion technology represents a key step on our way to Audi 'e-benzin'."
