Fuels from bacteria

A breakthrough in the production of biofuels has been developed by scientists in Germany. Research published in the September 2006 issue of Microbiology, described how specially engineered bacteria could be used to make fuel completely from food crops.

"Biodiesel is an alternative energy source and a substitute for petroleum-based diesel fuel," said Professor Steinbüchel of the Westfälische Wilhelms university in Münster.

"A growing number of countries are already making biodiesel on a large scale, but the current method of production is still costly.

"Biodiesel production depends on plant oils obtained from seeds of oilseed crops like rapeseed or soy," Steinbüchel said.

"However, production of plant oils has a huge demand of acreage, which is one of the main factors limiting a more widespread use of biodiesel today. In addition, biodiesel production must compete with the production of food."

Microdiesel is different from other production methods because it not only uses the same plant oils, but can also use readily available bulk plant materials or even recycled waste paper if engineering of the production strain is more advanced.

Unlike many other biodiesels, it does not rely on the addition of toxic methanol from fossil resources. The bacteria developed for use in the Microdiesel process make their own ethanol instead. This could help to keep the costs of production down and means that the fuel is made from 100% renewable resources.

"Due to the much lower price of the raw materials used in this new process, as well as their great abundance, the Microdiesel process can result in a more widespread production of biofuel at a competitive price in the future," said Steinbüchel.

21/09/2006