Biofuel from waste products may become a reality

21st July 2008

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Cars to run on fuel from household waste within two years

INEOS has the technology to produce commercial quantities of bio ethanol fuel from
landfill waste

Second generation bio ethanol reduces greenhouse gases from car use by 90% and
doesn’t use food crops in the production process

“This is a breakthrough technology” says INEOS Bio CEO


INEOS, the world’s third-largest chemical company, announced today that it is aiming to produce
commercial quantities of bioethanol fuel from biodegradable municipal waste in aboutg two years.

INEOS’ new technology will produce bioethanol in large quantities from municipal solid waste,
organic commercial waste and agricultural residues amongst other things.

According to Peter Williams, INEOS Bio CEO, “In North America and Europe we will see
around 10% or more of petrol (gasoline) being replaced with bioethanol. Our technology
will make a major contribution to reducing greenhouse gases and the world’s need for
fossil fuels.

INEOS Bio Ethanol releases up to 90% less net greenhouse gases than petrol (gasoline). One
tonne of dry waste can be converted into about 400 litres (100 gallons) of ethanol, which can
either be blended with traditional fuels or replace them altogether, to substantially reduce vehicle
emissions.

The technology – already proven at pilot plant scale – uses a simple three-stage process. The
waste is first superheated to produce gases. Then, through a patented process, the gases are
fed to naturally occurring bacteria, which efficiently produce ethanol. Finally, the ethanol is
purified to make the fuel ready to be blended for use in cars.

Car companies have already developed engines that can run efficiently on both bioethanol and
conventional fuel. Up to now, the challenge has been that bioethanol is manufactured primarily
from food crops and this has raised concerns on price and availability.

Peter Williams says, “The fact that we have been able to decouple second-generation
biofuel from food is a major breakthrough, and we expect our technology to provide cost-competitive, sustainable, renewable fuels."

Dr Geraint Evans is the Technology Transfer Manager for the UK’s National Non-Food Crops
Centre. He says: “This is a breakthrough in two areas: Technologically because we can
use municipal solid waste. And commercially because we have the potential to produce
large volumes of bioethanol viably across the world.”

Governments, NGO’s and Municipal Authorities are already welcoming second-generation
biofuel such as INEOS Bio Ethanol that will contribute to both reducing emission of greenhouse
gas and the ever-growing waste-disposal problem.

The process was developed in Fayetteville, Arkansas, where Dan Coody is Mayor. He
recognises the enormous potential: “This is the right product for us, at the right time, to help
solve some of the world’s most intractable problems.
If we could use this ethanol from waste, we’re not only reducing our greenhouse gas
emissions, we’re reducing our dependence on foreign oil.”

With the technology proven at pilot scale, the next challenge is to bring second-generation
bioethanol into commercial production.

Peter Williams, INEOS Bio CEO says: “We expect to announce the location of the first
commercial plant fairly shortly and we will aim to quickly roll out our technology around
the world. We plan to be producing commercial amounts of bioethanol fuel for cars from
waste within about two years.