Plant-based hydrocarbons. Hydrocarbon-based chemicals and fuels are traditionally petroleum-based. This company produces hydrocarbon-based chemical commodities from plant biomass. This process is renewable and works with most carbohydrate feedstock. More specifically, the company uses sustainably raised corn. Corn is used because it draws a lot of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. The carbohydrate content and protein content in plant biomass are separated. The protein can be used in other industries. The carbohydrates (typically cellulose or hemicellulose) are broken down into simple carbohydrate monomers by enzymes. These monomers are then fermented into iso-butanol with yeast. This iso-butanol can be used directly as a chemical commodity or fuel. It can also be used in catalytic processes for a variety of products.
