Bioengineered Bacteria Transforms Carbon Dioxide Into Liquid Fuel
12 December 2009 | Alternative Energy | No Comments
Just as reminded in an earlier post, the attention towards the tremendous potential of microorganisms, when it comes to its use in creating a fuel-alternative has been spotted as important all along. So this are the times the “fruits” of the years long research in the field of microbiology and its genetic manipulations are collected.
One of this studies, performed by the researchers from the UCLA Henry Samueli School of Engineering and Applied Science has produced a major breakthrough. They recently managed to genetically manipulate a cyanobacterium, so that after absorbing carbon dioxide, the microorganism is capable of returning a liquid fuel called isobutanol, an organic compound which can be used as an alternative fuel. The other great thing about this achievement is that the bacteria only needs the sun to drain its energy from, in order for the reaction to take place.
The gas known as “carbon dioxide” is a dangerous greenhouse gas, produced mostly by burning fossil fuels but also a vital element, being needed by plants and some algae in the process of photosynthesis. Nevertheless, the rising amounts of this gas emitted in the atmosphere poses some threat to the planet. This is were this created bacteria could help accomplishing a more environmentally-friendly energy solution. It could also solve two current problems: it will lower the carbon dioxide emissions and provide an alternative fuel, in the same time.
“This new approach avoids the need for biomass deconstruction, either in the case of cellulosic biomass or algal biomass, which is a major economic barrier for biofuel production,” said the leader of the study, James C. Liao, a professor of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering at UCLA.
A smart placement of this idea would be near a carbon dioxide emitting-power plant (which most of them are), thus letting the gas never leave the area and, ideally, be converted directly into fuel.
Further research is being put forward in order to increase rate of production as well as to improve its efficiency.
Tags: alternative, bacteria, bioengineered, Biomass, breakthrough, carbon dioxide, cyanobacterium, environmentally, fuel, genetic manipulation, greenhouse gas, isobutanol, research, UCLA