Germany's Verbio directs ethanol, glycerin to hand sanitizer

Verbio is directing ethanol and glycerin to the production of 40,000 liters of hand sanitizer a week in its Zorbig facility to supply hospitals and pharmacies during the coronavirus crisis, the German biofuel producer said Tuesday.

This involved a technical adjustment to use a production line for the manufacture of fuel ethanol as the basis for disinfectant production, as well as setting up filling and packaging units and the associated logistics.

The hand sanitizer is being produced in accordance with World Health Organization specifications and local permits have been obtained.

The plan is for production quantities to be gradually ramped up.

First deliveries are going to pharmacies in the eastern states of Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt and Brandenburg, with orders across Germany to follow.

Verbio has European production facilities in Zoerbig, Bitterfeld and Schwedt in eastern Germany and produces biofuels with up to 90% greenhouse savings.

Last week, other ethanol producers including CropEnergies and Cristal Union also announced they would be diverting feedstock to industrial from fuel ethanol production to meet rising demand for hand sanitizer.