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Turning the Food-Fuel Crisis on its Head (3) comments
By Ikechukwu Anyanwu | Tuesday, September 2 2008 | Biotech
  
 The global frenzy to find alternatives to traditional fossil fuels has gained a new twist, as researchers from a U.S. based Biotech Company, LS9 inc., have developed a mechanism through which genetically re-engineered E.Coli (Escherichia Coli) bacteria and Yeast fungi can produce diesel fuel from waste materials.
Under natural conditions, diesel fuel along with oil, natural gas and coal are formed from the decomposition of plants, plankton and other organic matter, over millions of years. However LS9 scientists have been able to wind faster the clocks of nature with their new development using genetically engineered bacteria creating, in essence, billions of micro-refineries to convert simple sugars into environmentally friendly diesel, gasoline, jet fuel and biocrude.
According to Stephen Del Cardayre, Vice President, Research and Development, LS9 inc., the production of diesel fuel began two years ago on a small scale but today barrels are being produced on a regular basis.
In his words, “a special type of genetically altered bacteria is fed plant material, basically, any type of sugar. They digest it and excrete the equivalent of diesel fuel.” Explaining further, Del Cardayre said, “They started off like regular lab bacteria that didn’t produce oil, but we took genes from nature, we engineered them a bit and put them into this organism so that we can convert sugar into oil.”
The microbes used in this process, are a harmless form of E. Coli and an engineered strain of yeast. The feedstock can be any type of agricultural product, from sugar cane to waste, such as wood chips and wheat straw. The microbes are able to ferment the carbohydrate forms available in the stock to produce gasoline.
This renewable petroleum initiative comes as a respite, as international concern on rising food prices attributed to production of biofuels is beginning to grow. Recent biofuel research has thus sought to focus on developing methods by which non-food crops can be used as stock for biofuel production. [scitech360 Energy: The Green Dilemma]
Innovations in genetic engineering, now allow scientists to control end products of similar production processes, however, LS9 inc., is focusing on the production of diesel fuel, for now, despite their ability to engineer the microbes to produce gasoline or jet fuel.
The LS9 engineered microbe posits another special advantage. The diesel fuel product does not contain the cancer causing benzene and PAHs (Poly Aryl Hydrocarbons) that characterizes other fossil fuels and also it has less sulfur thus being more environmentally friendly.
Biofuel experts believe that the LS9 renewable petroleum technology are economically viable and offer the fastest adoption potential for vehicles since the products are customized to closely resemble petroleum fuels, engineered to be clean, renewable, domestically produced, and cost competitive with crude oil.
LS9 still has a long way to go, before they can address global energy needs however the company has received the financial backing and the facilities to turn in the numbers. Recently LS9 announced a deal with the Brazilian sugar and ethanol manufacturer Crystalsev to launch a joint facility south of São Paulo, giving them access to 2 million tons of sugar to feed its engineered strains of yeast. It projects commercial production of some 30 million gallons of diesel as early as 2010, with production of gasoline and jet fuel roughly one and two years behind, respectively.
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(3) comments Click Here to Add Your Comment |
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Meeting Global Energy Demands
By Nonso Buya | on Wednesday, September 3 2008 | 01:36:00 AM
Isn\'t there a way this program can be fast-tracked - in order to far greater results that is still eco-friendly? I usually it the feeling that \'Big Oil\' somehow undermines these great works in the pipelines so that they relevant for centuries... Or is this just me being cynical. |
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The world needs renewable fuel
By John Ikenna | on Thursday, September 4 2008 | 06:44:42 AM
Renewable fuel is the only solution to the worlds crisis of energy demands.Fuel cells,genetically re engineered organisms and the likes is the solution cos they are renewable and cause less harm to us and the society.
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this is wonderful
By Innocent Ikeh | on Friday, September 5 2008 | 06:56:56 AM
I hope this comes on stream soon. Atleast it would reduce the problem of mankind to a considerable extent cos dis energy issue has monumental effects on world peace, economy n politics. One thing that peturbs me is the impart this is going to have on our economy bearing in mind that our economy is oil dependent with little or no effort to diversify it by our leaders. whatever the case, change to the best of my knowledge is the only permanent thing. we can either decide to reposition our selves to reap the sweet effects of change or allow ourselves 2 be victims... the world is on the move driven by science n technology |
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