International Process Plants (IPP), a leader in repurposing industrial manufacturing sites, has leased its fermentation-based bio-acetone and bio-butanol plant in Little Falls, Minnesota, to Nuol Green Chemistry, a biochemical company focused on replacing petrochemical products with renewable and sustainable alternatives.

The 40-million-gallon-per-year precision fermentation plant will serve as a key production location for Nuol Green Chemistry’s advanced bio-based chemicals, including isobutanol and acetone. Strategically located in Minnesota’s bio-focused economy with access to major highways and a rail-adjacent site, the plant offers robust infrastructure for bio-based industrial production.

“This marks another significant milestone in IPP’s mission to drive the transition toward sustainable manufacturing using assets we have versus assets that need to be built new,” said Ronald Gale, President at IPP. “Nuol Green Chemistry’s leadership and technical teams bring many decades of proven expertise in renewable feedstock fermentation and biohydrolysis, aligning perfectly with our commitment to repurposing industrial assets such as this site for a greener future.”

The 27-acre property features commercial and pilot scale fermentation and distillation systems, utilities including wastewater, and comprehensive product testing laboratories. The plant’s capabilities include:

• Four 285,000-gallon fermenters optimized for microbial fermentation.
• Milling, saccharification, and ultrafiltration systems for precision biochemical processing.
• Multistage distillation and evaporation systems for high-purity bio-acetone and bio-butanol production.
• Large-scale storage capacity for raw materials and finished products.

“Leasing this advanced facility from IPP enables us to accelerate the commercialization of our sustainable chemical products,” said Enrico Steagall, CEO at Nuol Green Chemistry. “With this plant, we will be able to supply high-value biochemicals that support decarbonization and reduce reliance on petrochemicals by using our novel technologies, including our unique enzymes.”