The Fischer-Tropsch process was developed in the 1920s as a way to convert coal into liquid fuel. This thermochemical process involves a first step in which coal is vaporized in the presence of water vapor to generate syngas (a mixture of CO and H2). This gas is then condensed into alkanes of various, controllable sizes. This transformation process is effective, but needs large amounts of energy.Temperatures exceeding 900°C are required.
The overall equation for the Fischer-Tropsch equation is :
6 C + 6 H2O 
4(CH2) + 2 CO2 + 2 H2O
The overall equation for the isobutene production process developed by Global Bioenergies is very similar :
C6H12O6 C4H8 + 2 CO2 + 2 H2O
This process is a biological analog of the Fischer-Tropsch process but does not require a high-temperature step and is therefore better as concerns both energy and environment.
