ZeaChem vs Terrabon: Who's the Best?

Background: This is a second round, Central Regional match-up between #3 seed ZeaChem and #6 seed Terrabon, in the 2011 Transformative Technologies tourney, from Biofuels Digest.

Voting: Open to all Biofuels Digest subscribers. Voting links are in the Biofuels Digest daily newsletter. To subscribe (free), visit here.

The winner gets: Most votes advances to the Sweet Sixteen (round of 16), and a shot at the Biofuels Elite Eight.

The loser: Goes home.

Laurels: ZeaChem is the 27th ranked company in the 2010-11 50 Hottest Companies in Bioenergy poll. Terrabon is currently #39.

The match-up: It’s a Battle of the Shovel-Readies.  ZeaChem took 68 percent of the votes in its first round battle with Ensyn. Terrabon prevailed over Metabolix by 65-35.

ZeaChem combines biochemical fermentation and thermochemical processes into a hybrid process that achieves 40% higher yield than other cellulosic processes, according to the company. It is currently constructing a demonstration of its technology which will be open in Q4 2011.  ZeaChem’s patented biorefining process uses an acetogen – a species of bacteria adapted to digest the tough carbon chains of cellulose – to extract the maximum amount of energy available from the feedstock. ZeaChem offers the highest yield, lowest production cost and lowest carbon emissions profile of any known biorefining process.

Terrabon’s MixAlco is an advanced bio-refining technology used by Terrabon’s experienced staff of chemical engineers to convert low-cost, readily available, non-food, non-sterile biomass into valuable chemical precursors such as organic acids, ketones and secondary alcohols that can be processed into renewable hydrocarbon fuels.

Metabolix is commercializing Mirel – a family of bioplastic materials made from a renewable resource, plant derived sugar. Mirel resins are durable but will biodegrade at the end of their useful life. Metabolix is also developing technologies to produce number of important commercial chemicals and chemical intermediates through biological conversion of sustainable feedstocks such as sugars.polyurethanes, engineering resins, and personal care products.