Braskem Develops Bioacetone From Corn Ethanol With Lallemand Biofuels

Braskem and Lallemand Biofuels & Distilled Spirits (LBDS) are developing a technology to produce bioacetone from corn ethanol, adding a higher value co-product for ethanol plants without compromising fuel output. Braskem will handle market development and commercialization focused on the United States and Europe. Bioacetone is expected to be commercially available on an industrial scale in 2028, after five years of joint development, with North American ethanol producers beginning to gain access now.

Key facts

Market context

Acetone is a widely used industrial solvent and chemical intermediate. It dissolves many resins and coatings, serves as a cleaning and nail-polish-remover solvent, and is a key feedstock for making methyl methacrylate, which goes into acrylic plastics, adhesives and sealants. Demand is driven mainly by paints and coatings, personal care and cosmetics, and acrylics production. Most acetone is made from petrochemical feedstocks such as cumene, so a bio-based version made from fermentation routes could give buyers a lower-carbon option that is chemically identical in use and can slot into existing supply chains. For ethanol producers, a higher-value co-product can improve plant economics without reducing fuel output. Any new bio-based supply would mainly affect how producers and converters source acetone over time, rather than changing near-term market balances.

Source: official release on braskem.com.br. Summary and context written by Market Krystal.