May 2, 2008

US scientists find new source for biofuels, could relieve corn supplies
 

A newly created microbe produces cellulose that can be turned into ethanol and other biofuels, according to scientists from the University of Texas.

A mass production of the microbe - the cyanobacteria - could relieve tight corn supplies and provide a high portion of the nation's transportation fuel, said the scientists.

Aside from cellulose, the cynanobacteria is able to secrete glucose and sucrose, which are major sources used for ethanol production.

The cyanobacterium is potentially an inexpensive source to use for ethanol and biofuels, according to developers Dr David Nobles and Dr R. Malcolm Brown.

The cyanobacteria can also be grown in production facilities on non-agricultural lands using salty water unsuitable for crops and human consumption. That ensures that no additional resources, especially arable land, are taken away from crop farming. Using the microbe could also relieve pressure from corn farmers who are producing corn for non-food sources, said Brown.

The estimated area required to produce corn-based ethanol to fuel all US transportation needs is around 820,000 square miles, an area almost the size of the entire Midwest, according to calculations by Brown and Nobles.

They theorised that they could produce an equal amount of ethanol using an area half that size with cyanobacteria based on current productivity levels in the lab. However, Brown and Nobles also said there is much work ahead before cyanobacteria is able to provide such fuel in the field.