For thousands of years now, yeast has been used to turn sugar into alcohol and the carbohydrate-providing corn can easily be broken into sugars.
To help the environment from the increasing emissions of carbon gas — a major source of greenhouse gas, hence global warming - researchers have planned to produce ethanol from the still untapped source, i.e. carbon monoxide gas.
An Auckland-based company - LanzaTech - has claimed to have developed a fermentation process in which ethanol is produced not from a carbohydrate, but from a gas — carbon monoxide. In this process, ‘bacteria’ are made to consume carbon monoxide, producing ethanol in the process.
This bacteria-produced fuel can be used as an alternative fuel to gasoline - the polluter. It can also be used to boost octane that will eventually reduce pollution when added to gasoline.
For establishing a pilot plant for performing the engineering work to prepare for commercial-scale ethanol production, the LanzaTech will need $3.5 million investment. This investment will be made by the venture firm, Khosla Ventures.
Comments
Thats really good.
What kind of bacteria is this? If this bacteria is to be multiplied, can this have an effect on human race? Hope its doesn’t.
This technology can help! Another alternative fuel. What are the other side purpose of these except from boosting octane? Can it solve my mitsubishi precis radiator overheating?
Good luck to them! It will be very useful for us.