A Colorado-based firm has plans to retrofit corn-based ethanol plants in the Midwest with the ability to produce biobutanol, an advanced biofuel.

Gevo Incorporated recently opened a biobutanol demonstration plant in St Joseph, Missouri. Gevo officials say it’s the first time an existing ethanol operation has been successfully retrofitted to produce biobutanol instead of ethanol.

How is biobutanol different from ethanol? “Biobutanol is an alcohol like ethanol,” explains Gevo’s Jack Huttner. “It has a little bit higher energy content—a couple more carbon atoms are part of the chain—and it can be used in both the fuel and chemical markets.”

And, unlike ethanol, biobutanol can be transported can be transported through the underground pipelines that carry petroleum. Biobutanol can be made from corn and other grains, and Huttner says cellulosic biobutanol production is also possible once biomass conversion technology becomes commercially available.

As for expansion, Huttner says Gevo plans to acquire three to five ethanol plants over the next 12 to 18 months. “We’re basically looking wherever there is existing ethanol capacity,” he says, “where owners or holders of those—of that capacity—are looking to make a change. So basically the Corn Belt.”

Another Gevo official, Brett Lund, told the Lincoln Journal-Star that they have a “definite interest” in Nebraska ethanol plants. Ethanol plants at Mead and Cambridge, Nebraska are currently idle, and an unfinished plant at Carleton goes on the auction block on October 28th.

Huttner says retrofit facilities will have the flexibility to produce either ethanol or biobutanol.

AUDIO: Jack Huttner (9 min MP3)