Current status and prospects of industrial bio-production of n-butanol in China

n-Butanol is an important bulk chemical. Commercial fermentative production of n-butanol has been applied more than 100 years ago but is currently more costly than production from propylene and syngas. Renewed interest in biobutanol as a biofuel has spurred technological advances to the fermentation process. This article reviewed the recent status including the commercialization, pilot production and R&D activities of n-butanol fermentation in China. Long-term bio-production of n-butanol as a next generation biofuel and biochemical from biomass waste and steel mill off-gas needs technology breakthroughs and more environmental concerns from policymakers. (C) 2014 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.