India Explores Isobutanol-Diesel Blending

On 11th September 2025, Union Transport Minister announced that the Automotive Research Association of India (ARAI) is exploring the possibility of blending isobutanol, an alcoholic biofuel, with diesel. This initiative comes after ethanol-diesel blending trials did not meet performance expectations.

Why consider isobutanol for diesel?

Aspect

Ethanol

Isobutanol

Blend Compatibility

Lower miscibility with diesel

Better miscibility; requires no complementary additives

Flash Point

Lower; higher volatility, riskier

Higher; safer for handling and storage

Availability

Surplus in India

Produced from ethanol feedstock if needed

Contribution to Biofuel Goals

Supports net-zero 2070 targets

Offers new avenue for surplus sugarcane utilization

Production and Economics

  • Feedstock: Sugarcane syrup, molasses, grains.
  • Process: Fermentation using engineered microbes designed to produce isobutanol instead ....
Do You Want to Read More?
Subscribe Now
To get access to detailed content

Already a Member? Login here

Take Annual Subscription and get the following Advantage
The annual members of the Civil Services Chronicle can read the monthly content of the magazine as well as the Chronicle magazine archives.
Readers can study all the material since 2018 of the Civil Services Chronicle monthly issue in the form of Chronicle magazine archives.
Be an Annual Subscriber

Science & Technology