Biobutanol performs similarly to unleaded gasoline on key parameters according to ongoing laboratory-based engine testing and limited fleet testing being conducted by E.I. du Pont de Nemours & Co. and BP plc.

The companies announced their findings at the Society of Automotive Engineers’ annual conference today. The research is part of the companies’ joint strategy to deliver advanced biofuels. The first product targeted for introduction is biobutanol, an advanced biofuel that can be made from agricultural feedstock including sugar beets, corn, wheat, sugar cane and eventually biomass rather than petroleum. It also can be blended into gasoline at larger concentrations than ethanol.

According to Frank Gerry, BP Biofuels program manager, biobutanol formulations meet key characteristics of a “good” fuel with high energy density, controlled volatility, sufficient octane and low levels of impurities. Early phase testing data indicate that biobutanol fuel blends at a nominal 10 volume percent level perform similarly to unleaded gasoline fuel. Its energy density is also closer to unleaded gasoline than ethanol.

“Over 100 DuPont scientists and engineers are committed to making advanced biofuels and new energy-efficient biofuels processes a reality,” said DuPont Biofuels venture manager David Anton in a press release. “Our researchers are working with BP scientists and are on track to deliver a higher yielding biobutanol technology.”