Scientists use E.coli to generate renewable propane

A team of British and Finnish scientists have moved closer to generating renewable propane by “hi-jacking the assembly line” of the gut bacteria Escherichia coli, as the first step to commercial production of a fuel that could one day be an alternative to petrol and diesel.

The researchers from Imperial College London and Turku University altered a metabolic pathway in E.coli that normally generates fatty acids. The E.coli is engineered to make three new enzymes, which convert the fatty acid into propane.

"Although this research is at a very early stage, our proof of concept study provides a method for renewable production of a fuel that previously was only [available] from fossil reserves,” said Patrik Jones, of the Department of Life Sciences at Imperial College, one the researchers on the project.

"Although we have only produced tiny amounts so far, the fuel we have produced is ready to be used in an engine straight away," Jones said.

Propane is a relatively clean burning fuel – due to its lower carbon content – and it has an existing global market. “We chose propane because it can be separated from the natural process with minimal energy and it will be compatible with the existing infrastructure for easy use,” Jones said.

Cautious steps

Jones cautioned the research is still at an early stage, with only a few milligrams of fuel produced so far. A massive scale-up will be needed to attract investors and commercialise renewable propane.