Green Biologics Inc. is a wholly owned US subsidiary of Green Biologics Ltd., a UK industrial biotechnology and renewable chemicals company. The acquisition was make through Central MN Renewables LLC. (CMR), an affiliate of Green Biologics Inc. Current management and employees will continue with CMR. The plant is scheduled to begin production of renewable n-butanol and acetone in 2016, and will continue to produce ethanol until the repurposing is completed. The purchase was in accordance with an asset purchase agreement with CMEC previously announced on 2 December 2013. CMEC was represented in the transaction by Ocean Park Advisors, LLC.

n-butanol is a major performance chemical used as both a solvent and an intermediate in the production of high value derivatives such as butyl acrylates, butyl glycol ethers, butyl acetate, amino resins, and plasticizers. These derivatives are key raw materials in paints, coatings, adhesives and inks as well as cosmetics, personal care ingredients, industrial and household cleaners, food ingredients, and specialty products.

According to Markets to Markets consultancy, the global n-butanol market is expected to reach $9.4 billion by 2018, with year-over-year growth exceeding 4.4%. Acetone is a backbone intermediate in the production of methyl methacrylate monomers, Bisphenol A, aldol chemicals such as MIBK (methyl isobutyl ketone) and other high value products, and is used extensively as a solvent in paints, coatings, adhesives, inks, cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, electronics and laboratory chemicals.

Having built our demonstration facility in Emmetsburg, Iowa and met our technology milestones, we are now moving forward with the second stage—the completion of the CMEC plant acquisition and repurposing it to renewable n-butanol and acetone production for start-up in 2016.

—Sean Sutcliffe, CEO of Green Biologics Ltd. and Chairman of Green Biologics, Inc.

Green Biologics’ Clostridium fermentation platform converts a wide range of sustainable feedstocks into high performance chemicals such as n-butanol, acetone, and through chemical synthesis, derivatives of butanol and acetone used by a growing global consumer and industrial products customer base. While n-butanol and acetone are the first platform products, the company is developing future C₃ and C₄ chemicals and derivatives using this Clostridium platform.