WILMINGTON, Del., Dec. 20, 2013 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Butamax™ Advanced Biofuels, LLC, the leading biobutanol technology company, announced that a joint research program with UL (Underwriters Laboratories) has determined that gasoline fuel storage and dispensing equipment meeting latest UL standards can safely and successfully use blends of up to 16% biobutanol. This is the first time that UL has made such a determination.
Butamax's Fuel Product Manager, James Baustian, stated "UL represent the gold standard for product safety, testing, and certification. This guidance clears the way for State Agencies to consider and approve dispensing of isobutanol gasoline fuel blends. This is a major milestone for the commercial distribution of biobutanol. Butamax will immediately begin to work with State and Federal authorities to complete final approvals for dispensing of gasoline containing isobutanol."
State regulations require fuel dispensing equipment to be listed by independent product safety testing laboratories such as UL. At the time current UL dispensing equipment test standards were finalized, biobutanol was not commercially available and was not tested. This announcement by UL means that if butanol had been available as a fuel it would have been included for service use in equipment meeting latest UL standards.
Paul Beckwith, Butamax CEO, added "UL have conducted a comprehensive assessment of isobutanol compatibility jointly with Butamax and we have found them to be an excellent technology partner. This milestone is a reflection of UL's commitment to promotion of new product safety, together with Butamax's fuel market expertise."
Butamax recently announced construction of phase 1 of its first retrofit facility at Highwater Ethanol in Lamberton, Minnesota and expects to be commercially producing isobutanol by 2015.
About Butamax
Butamax™ Advanced Biofuels, LLC, was formed to develop and commercialize biobutanol as a next generation renewable biofuel for the transport market. The company is an independent joint venture that benefits from the synergy of DuPont's proven industrial biotechnology experience and BP's global fuels market knowledge. Butamax's proprietary technology offers a cost-advantaged manufacturing process for isobutanol with value from field to pump. For more information about Butamax, visit www.butamax.com and for information about Butamax's biobutanol technology and patent portfolio, visit www.butamaxpatents.com. All Butamax communications solely reflect the views of Butamax LLC. # # # Butamax™ is a trademark of Butamax™ Advanced Biofuels, LLC.