Filed under: Emerging Technologies, USA
Making bacteria work to produce biofuels
The latest innovative method to produce biofuels (at least that we know about) has arrived with bacteria. A group of UCLA scientists have manipulated a set of Eschericha coli bacteria with genetic engineering so it produces isobutanol from glucose. The technique manipulates the E. Coli's metabolic mechanisms to increase its 2-Keto Acid production levels. This component is key to synthesize isobutanol.
UCLA's Shota Atsumi, Taizo Hanai and James C. Liao state, "Compared to traditional biofuels such as ethanol, complex alcohols such as butanol or isobutanol offer serious advantages as gasoline substitutes, because of their high energy content and low humidity absorption levels."
Natural microorganisms can, indeed, produce amounts of complex alcohols. Using the genetic engineering techniques, researchers got bacteria producing them, but it wasn't a simple or cheap method to develop. Besides the E. Coli, the team expects to work with less harmful bacteria, such as Saccharomyces cerevisiae.
Related:
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- How butanol is made
- Grape-flavored energy? Welch's, NanoLogix have generated hydrogen from bioreactor
[Source: El País]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Anon 3:51AM (1/20/2008)
Saccharomyces cerevisiae isn't a bacterium it's a yeast.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saccharomyces_cerevisiae
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Dad 7:59PM (1/20/2008)
"Eschericha coli bacteria with genetic engineering so it produces isobutanol from glucose"
Wow, if the could make a bacteria that lives in my gut all the time, then I could be constantly "stoned" from any ethanol it produces when I eat a sugar!!!!!!!
"But officer, honest, I have had nothing to drink all day except Coca Cola!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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Uncle B 8:19PM (5/22/2008)
One 'Magic Bullet' won't be the 'final solution' to the energy crisis, a combination of ongoing developments will pressure the now too expensive and very carcinogenic oil from its high perch. Genetic engineering is an important contributer to the 21st century lifestyle that is evolving here in North America.
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