180 



AARC 



Alternative Agricultural Research & Commercialization Center 



Farmer-Rancher Group Turns 

 Corn into Chemicals 



Anything made from a barrel of petro- 

 leum, also can be made from a bushel 

 of corn or from farmers' other crops. 

 However, higher production costs have offset 

 the multiple environmental advantages of 

 using renewable, less-polluting crop oils and 

 chemicals in place of those produced from 

 imported, non-renewable petroleum. 



To overcome the cost barrier, a group 

 of farmers and ranchers has spent eight years 

 developing patented new technology for 

 turning their corn into high-value industrial 

 chemicals such as propylene glycol, glycerin 

 and ethylene glycol — chemicals that are the 

 feedstocks for such products as polyester 

 resins and fibers, polymers, laundry deter- 

 gents, pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, synthetic 

 fats and antifreeze. 



The group's Redmond, Washington, 

 company. International Polyol Chemicals Inc.. 

 has demonstrated its new technology by 

 turning corn starch into industrial chemicals 

 at the pilot-plant level. The company cur- 

 rently processes S.OOO tons of corn starch per 

 year The next step is to develop a commer- 

 cial-scale plant designed to be competitive 

 with petrochemical plants by processing 

 100,000 tons per year. 



Company officials explain that achiev- 

 ing commercial production levels will require 

 changes to bring production costs do^ATl 

 through a combination of increasing the 

 yield of chemicals per bushel, changing the 

 mix of chemicals produced, developing a 

 less-costly catalyst, and reducing investment 

 costs. 



To help International Polyol go commer- 

 cial, the Alternative .Agricultural Research and 

 Commercialization Center, a branch of the U.S. 

 Department of Agriculture, is investing 

 5300,000 this year in support of additional 

 research efforts. The expected payoff for the 

 nation should spread far beyond Washington 

 state. If International Polyol succeeds in making 

 petrochemicals, the benefits will include cleaner 

 income for rural America. 



Illustration by Ed Courner 



International Polyol Chemicals Inc., WA 



Sponsor's Contact: A. Terry Brjx, (206) 861 -6565 

 Raw Material: Corn 



Product: Ethylene Glycol, Propylene Glycol 



& Glycerin 



AARC: $300,000 



Cooperators Contributions (est.): $601 ,000 



"chemicals from corn" commercially competitive with 

 air. cleaner waier. reduced oil imports and a new source of 



USDA-AARC CENTER • 12th & C St. S.W. • Washington, DC 20250 

 Telephone: (202) 401-4860 • Fax: (202) 401-6068 



Printed on recyded paper using soyOean-Msed ink 



