New bacteria herald advance in biofuel production

German researchers have developed genetically-engineered bacteria which can be used to produce biodiesel from the waste biomass left over from oilseed crops such as rapeseed or soya after the oil has been extracted.

Alexander Steinbüchel of the Westfälische Wilhelms-Universität in Münster says, “A growing number of countries are making biodiesel on a large scale, but the current method of production from plant oils is still costly”.

Another factor limiting the more widespread use of biodiesel is that producing it from plant oils competes with the production of food and animal feedstuff, raising ethical concerns.

Using the new bacteria, it is possible to generate ‘microdiesel’ as the scientists have named it, from a range of plant materials, and also from waste paper.

The production of biodiesel from this source does not require the addition of methanol from fossil fuel sources, as with conventional biodiesel, as the bacteria generate ethanol. This is commercially attractive as it reduces production costs and means the fuel is made from 100 percent renewable resources.

“Due to the much lower price of the raw materials used in this new process, as well as their great abundance, the microdiesel process promises a more widespread production of biofuel at a competitive price”, says Steinbüchel.