UK Bioconversion Technologies Ltd. ( BCTL ), the developers and owners of a breakthrough technology for producing second-generation biofuels, have been acquired by Biocaldol Ltd for £8m in a share deal supported by Helm Godfrey.

Biocaldol is also completing the £2m funding round that will support the development and commercialisation of the novel bioethanol production system. The new funds will support the set up of a laboratory in London to adapt BCTL’s novel microorganisms to a range of feedstocks from food processing wastes or crop residues and also to fund pilot plant trials in collaboration with industrial partners.

The key to BCTL’s innovative and internationally-patented technology is the use of micro-organisms that grow at high temperatures and are constructed to convert a wide range of mixed sugars to bioethanol in high yields. These feedstocks are easily obtained by mild treatments of most food processing and agricultural wastes that are of little or no value, unlike first-generation bioethanol which is derived by yeast fermentation from relatively expensive foods such as corn, wheat or sugar.
Moreover because Biocaldol fermentations are carried out at high temperature, they are very fast and the ethanol is readily removed by vacuum evaporation, which reduces distillation costs.

Consequently ‘Biocaldol’ will be much cheaper than today’s bioethanol and have a much reduced Carbon Footprint. It promises to be the biofuel of the future.

Biocaldol’s Chairman and Senior Scientific Adviser, Professor Brian S Hartley, M.A., Ph. D., F.R.S. commented:

“We are delighted to join forces with Biocaldol to fast forward our commercialisation strategy. It is a pleasure to work with such a dedicated and enthusiastic team.”