Ethanol vs. Isobutanol
Dr. David Tsao, Americas Technology Manager, BP Remediation Management
ABSTRACT
Isobutanol is an Alternative Fuel with several potential advantages over the current major biofuel
available on the market - ethanol. Isobutanol can be produced with modest retro-fits to current production
facilities. Isobutanol technology utilizes existing feedstocks such as corn and sugarcane, and will work
with future technologies which convert biomass to fermentable sugars including lignocellulosic.
Isobutanol has chemical properties that allow it to be used in existing vehicles while yielding equivalent or
better emissions performance. In addition, isobutanol can displace higher volumes of fossil fuels in
gasoline blends and can be transported in existing pipelines without risk of phase separation. Finally,
recent studies have shown that the potential environmental footprint from accidental releases is similar
or better than ethanol.
BIOGRAPHY
Dr. David Tsao is the Americas Technology Manager for the Remediation Engineering & Technology
group in BP’s Remediation Management function at their Naperville, IL office. He is a three-time
chemical engineering graduate of Purdue University (B.S., M.S., Ph.D) where his areas of research
included plant biotechnology, pharmaceutical production, plant nutrition, and plant biomass production for
space (NASA) applications. Upon graduation, David came to work for Amoco in the Environmental
Technology Assessment and Development group where he specialized in the areas of phytotechnologies
and the remediation of gasoline oxygenates. Currently, David is responsible for a team of technical
specialists coordinating, developing, and implementing the technical aspects of clean up strategies for a
broad range of sites around the globe. He is personally active in bioremediation, phytotechnologies,
wetland technologies, native prairie restorations, ecosystem developments, biodiversity, and greenhouse
gas emissions reduction. David is also responsible for evaluating the potential environmental impacts of
new BP biofuel products. Furthermore, David actively participates in the development of these naturalbased technologies, establishes regulatory guidance on their use, and teaches these technologies
through the Interstate Technology and Regulatory Council.
Most recently, David was stood up by the Deepwater Horizon Unified Area Command as the Strike Team
Leader for evaluating biological and chemical agents for the long term remediation and restoration of Gulf
Coast shorelines and wetlands. He leads a multi-organizational team engaged in testing natural and
enhanced bioremediation approaches.