Isooctane is one of the most desirable components of premium gasoline because it resists engine knock, contains no sulfur or aromatics, and is fully compatible with all existing fuel systems and infrastructure. Gevo’s renewable isooctane is physically identical to its fossil equivalent but sourced entirely from corn. It is the primary building block of Gevo’s renewable gasoline product family and is sold commercially for premium, motorsport, and outdoor equipment fuel applications where high octane and ethanol-free performance are valued. As a bio-based, high-performance blendstock that can substitute directly for fossil-derived isooctane in any gasoline formulation, it offers refiners and fuel blenders a straightforward way to reduce the carbon intensity of their finished products.
Created by creating high-energy bonds between two four-carbon isobutanol molecules, isooctane delivers many desirable features to today’s engines, and offers carbon abatement when blended with fossil fuels.
Isooctane is considered a starting point for renewable fuel products, including high-performance fuel additives and renewable gasoline. Our low-carbon fuels are made from renewable feedstocks such as low-carbon crops and other biomass resources.
What Makes Isooctane So Good?
The isooctane that is the base material of Gevo’s renewable gasoline is derived from its corn-based isobutanol. The isooctane molecular structure has a strand of eight carbons, which gives it high energy content without premature ignition that plagues lower-octane gasolines. Isooctane is a pure hydrocarbon molecule found in gasoline and is already represented by a large part of most gasoline sold today. It’s used to make premium-grade gasolines. Similar to Isobutanol, isooctane also has several blend-property advantages: low Reid Vapor Pressure (RVP), and excellent octane rating. All of the fuels we produce have virtually no sulfur or particulates.
