Boost ethanol yield and kinetics
Replace harsh biocides that harm yeast with a yeast-positive bacteriostat
Supply assurance with proven, application-specific formulations
Are Production Challenges Piling Up?
Are you dealing with microbial contamination or antibiotic resistance?
Do you have concerns about meeting strict sustainability criteria?
Are your yields lower than expected?
The stakes are high in biofuel production. Look to BetaTec for innovation and technical support.
You Deserve Better Results
Biofuel producers face pressures at every turn; from volatile feedstock costs to process contamination to price competition with fossil fuels. With BetaTec hop-based processing aids, you can count on higher conversion yield, sustainable products backed by our dedicated support and a leading-edge lab that focuses on new and innovative ways to use hops extracts in industrial settings.
1
shipping points across the globe
The world's largest vertically integrated hops supplier dedicated to applications beyond brewing
1+
years in business in beyond-brewing applications, backed by over 200 years of hops expertise
WHAT CUSTOMERS SAY
"BetaTec is one of our top three suppliers, not just for business size but for the quality of the relationship - loyalty, transparency and strategic planning."
- President, Chemical Distribution
“We work with BetaTec because their products perform as advertised and their technical support is practical, responsive, and grounded in real plant data.”
- Operations Manager, Ethanol Producer
"I value the naturalness of the BetaTec product, our shared vision and the strong, responsive relationship."
– Procurement, Food Production
“BetaTec has helped us improve fermentation efficiency, stabilize yeast health, and make decisions backed by data rather than guesswork.”
- Operations Manager, Ethanol Producer
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the primary role of hop-based products in biofuel production?
BetaTec’s proprietary hop acids act as natural, selective antibacterial agents in the fermentation mash, suppressing Gram-positive contaminants (for example, Lactobacillus) that compete with yeast for fermentable sugars.
Why is controlling bacteria critical for ethanol production?
Contaminating bacteria consume sugars and produce organic acids (lactic and acetic), which reduce ethanol yield and can slow or stall fermentation; controlling these bacteria preserves substrate for yeast and sustains fermentation kinetics.
Can hop acids replace traditional antibiotics in ethanol production?
Yes. BetaTec hops are widely used and studied as a natural and effective replacement for chemical antibiotics (like Penicillin G , Virginiamycin). They achieve as good or better results in controlling Gram-positive bacteria, along with the additional benefit of improving yeast health, which is a major regulatory and consumer concern in the animal feed industry.
Are hop-based products effective against antibiotic-resistant bacteria?
Yes. BetaTec hop acids act by disrupting bacterial membrane energetics, a mechanism distinct from many clinical antibiotics. This reduces the likelihood of cross-resistance and enables control where conventional antibiotics perform poorly.
What is the benefit of "antibiotic free" production for co-products?
Using BetaTec hop acids preserves the ability to market distillers’ dried grains with solubles (DDGS) and other co-products as antibiotic-free — a clear commercial advantage as regulators and feed customers increasingly demand antibiotic-free supply chains.
Do hop extracts negatively affect the fermentation yeast?
No. Hop extracts do not harm ethanol fermentation; they improve it by selectively suppressing Gram-positive contaminants (e.g., Lactobacillus), which reduces microbial stress, enhances yeast health and viability, speeds attenuation, and increases final ethanol yield.
Can BetaTec hops be used with antibiotics during fermentation?
Yes. Our hop blends are fully compatible with antibiotics and, based on pilot- and production-scale experience, using our hop blends alongside antibiotics lets you lower antibiotic regimens because they provide preventive, prophylactic control of Gram-positive contaminants (e.g., Lactobacillus). Large or prolonged antibiotic dosing can stress yeast, but when our blends suppress contaminant loads upfront they reduce bacterial competition, enhance yeast health, speed attenuation and enable reduced antibiotic use without sacrificing contamination control.