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Researchers Boost Production Of Biofuel That Could Replace Gasoline
Columbus OH (SPX) Aug 24, 2009 Engineers at Ohio State University have found a way to double the production of the biofuel butanol, which might someday replace gasoline in automobiles. The process improves on the conventional method for brewing butanol in a bacterial fermentation tank. Normally, bacteria could only produce a certain amount of butanol - perhaps 15 grams of the chemical for every liter of water in the tank - before the tank would become too toxic for the bacteria to survive, explained Shang-Tian Yang, professor of chemical and biomolecular engineering at Ohio State. Yang and his colleagues developed a mutant strain of the bacterium Clostridium beijerinckii in a bioreactor containing bundles of polyester fibers. In that environment, the mutant bacteria produced up to 30 grams of butanol per liter. The researchers reported their results at the American Chemical Society meeting Wednesday in Washington, DC. Right now, butanol is mainly used as a solvent, or in industrial processes that make other chemicals. But experts believe that this form of alcohol holds potential as a biofuel. Once developed as a fuel, butanol could potentially be used in conventional automobiles in place of gasoline, while producing more energy than another alternative fuel, ethanol. Yang said that this use of his patented fibrous-bed bioreactor would ultimately save money. "Today, the recovery and purification of butanol account for about 40 percent of the total production cost," explained Yang, "Because we are able to create butanol at higher concentrations, we believe we can lower those recovery and purification costs and make biofuel production more economical." Currently, a gallon of butanol costs approximately $3.00 - a little more than the current price for a gallon of gasoline. The engineers are applying for a patent on the mutant bacterium and the butanol production methodology, and will work with industry to develop the technology. This research is funded by the Ohio Department of Development. Share This Article With Planet Earth
Related Links Ohio State University Bio Fuel Technology and Application News
SWBA Endorses Bipartisan Senate Push For Biodiesel StandardsAlbuquerque NM (SPX) Aug 19, 2009 The Southwestern Biofuels Association (SWBA) has announced its support for a bipartisan coalition in the U.S. Senate calling on President Barack Obama to keep the U.S. biodiesel industry alive by immediately implementing the biomass-based diesel mandate required under the 2007 Energy Independence and Security Act (EISA). "The delay in getting a final rule on biodiesel from EPA is crippling ... read more |
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