Minneapolis, Nov 20 – Seventeen students from Little Falls High School visited the Central Minnesota Renewables (CMR) plant yesterday afternoon to learn more about Minnesota’s bio-based chemical industry.

During the tour, the students, from grades 9 to 12, learned about the various processes of acetone and butanol production at CMR, which is produced from Minnesota-grown corn.

“We appreciate Little Falls High School bringing their students to our plant to learn about bio-based chemicals and the many benefits they provide. Tours such as these are an opportunity for students to engage with our employees and learn about the one of kind in the world production process that is located in their home town,” said Jonathan Olmscheid, VP of Finance at CMR.

The tour was organized by the Minnesota Bio-Fuels Association (MN Biofuels), a non-profit trade organization that represents the ethanol and renewable chemical industries in Minnesota. CMR is a member of MN Biofuels.

The students, which were from the high school’s Agriscience class, toured the facility’s administrative office, energy center, fermentation, distillation, laboratory operations, control room, protein and fiber storage, incoming grain handling and storage and chemical loadout areas.

“Yesterday’s visit from Little Falls concludes our school tours for 2018. Tours at CMR showcase how a domestic feedstock is converted into a clean chemical that reduces harmful VOC emissions and supports the surrounding economy,” said Tim Rudnicki, executive director at MN Biofuels.

CMR was previously an ethanol plant that was repurposed to produce renewable chemicals from corn in 2016. It uses 5.2 million bushels of corn annually.

CMR’s bio-based chemicals are used as solvents and additives in consumers products such as Kingsford GreenFlame charcoal lighter fluid, Beauty Secrets acetone nail polish remover, paints, adhesives and coatings.

Beth Berlin, agriculture instructor at Little Falls High School, accompanied her students during yesterday’s tour. Prior to the tour, she said that her students had studied corn and its use in biofuels.

“My students saw first-hand the uses of locally-grown corn, and viewed the process of making bio-based chemicals. I'm excited to have students see what is going on in their own backyards,” Berlin said