Eco Factor: Genetically engineered bacteria produces biofuel from sugars.
According to reports more than 7.6 billion liters of biofuels were consumed worldwide last year and the demand continues to soar. However, this rise in demand has caused the prices of some staple foods to soar as farmland is being turned over to fuel crops.
Biofuels, if produced using conventional means, don’t account for any major reductions in emissions if the emissions related to fertilizing, harvesting and processing and are considered. Biologists in the United States are trying to better the process by involving a genetically-engineered version of a bacterium called Escherichia coli to feast on sugars found in wood chips, straw and biomass waste to secrete molecules of fuel.
The incorporated genes enable production directly and the cell doesn’t have to be broken to get the diesel out. This process substantially reduces processing and hence production costs. Moreover, since biodiesel is insoluble in water it floats on its surface to further reduce processing costs.
Via: Yahoo Green
