The worldwide market for n-butanol is around 4.5 million tonnes per year valued at over $10 billion, and growing at a rate of 3.2 % per year through 2025. Global demand is split between the U.S., Europe and Asia (driven largely by China). Major global producers include Dow Chemical, BASF, Oxea and Eastman Chemical. Butanol is a building block chemical in the $85 billion paints and coatings market, and as acrylates, is used in the $700 billion polymers and plastics market. Butanol is used to produce key derivatives, including acrylates, acetates and glycol ethers. Our biobutanol is identical to n-butanol derived from fossil fuel and can be used as a direct substitute.
Acetone is another global market of 6.5 million tonnes with an estimated value of $5 billion. For every 3 pounds of biobutanol, we generate 1 pound of acetone co-product. Major global producers include Dow, Shell, Ineos, and Sunoco. Acetone is currently produced from fossil fuel-derived cumene, which is made from propylene. Our acetone is identical to acetone derived from fossil fuel and can be used as a direct substitute.
Butyric acid is a niche product used in a range of high value applications in animal health and nutrition to promote gut health in swine, poultry, beef and dairy. It's also used in polymers as cellulose acetate butyrate, a high value resin for blister packaging, tool handles, signage sheet goods and safety equipment. Butyric acid has many smaller applications in food and flavors, fragrances, pharmaceutical encapsulation (to improve timed release), and a myriad of other niche uses.