Scientists Discover Fuel-Producing Engineered Bacteria

Scientists in Germany have develop a breakthrough in the production of biofuels, which was published in the September 2006 issue of Microbiology, describing how specially-engineered bacteria could be used to make fuel completely from food crops.

The scientists have called the bacteria as Microdiesel. According to Professor Steinbüchel of the Westfälische Wilhelms-Universität in Münster, Microdiesel not only uses plant oils from rapeseed or soy to produce fuel but also from bulk plant material or even recycled waste paper if engineering of the production strain is more advanced.

Biofuel is an alternative energy source and a substitute for petroleum-based diesel fuel. A growing number of countries are already making biodiesel on a large scale, but the current method of production is still costly. Also, production of plant oils has a huge demand of acreage and its production must compete with the production of food, which also raises some ethical concerns.

Microdiesel does not rely on the addition of toxic methanol from fossil resource like other biodiesels available. The bacteria developed for use in the Microdiesel process make their own ethanol instead, which could keep the costs of production down and making the fuel made from 100% renewable resources.

Professor Steinbüchel hopes that the Microdiesel process can result in a more widespread production of biofuel at a competitive price in the future.

Source: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2006/09/060925083802.htm