GLOBAL CHALLENGES

Bacteria: Refining the Fuels of Tomorrow

Dave Greenfield | Date: 03-12-10 | Comments

Bacteria could be the next alternative fuel to relieve oil of its tremendous burden.

Dependence on pricy oil has led to a crusade to find the �fuel of tomorrow.� Likely, it will take several fuel sources to replace oil: wind, solar, hydro and bio fuels have been in use, even if not widespread use, for years. Far more new is the idea that bacteria could be the next alternative fuel to relieve oil of its tremendous burden.

It is hoped that bacteria could be used to produce fuels that behave like those derived from petroleum. San Carlos, Calif.-based LS9 is working on this �renewable petroleum,� which can be engineered from E. coli and other bacteria.

This is not the first time that scientists have tried to harness the power of bacteria. In 2008, a fuel cell was developed that could generate electricity, and at least one other company is known to be working on the same idea. LS9, however, is hoping that bacteria fuel can be used as a widespread, viable alternative to fossil fuels, and it�s hoping to be the one that delivers.

LS9 uses tools that are already in use in synthetic biology to change the genetic pathways that bacteria, animals and plants use to produce fatty acids. Fatty acids are very similar molecularly to diesel fuel. LS9 has been able to modify this process so bacteria generate diesel-producing strains.

Says Steve del Cardayre, vice president of research and development for LS9, �We divert those fatty acid pathways. It�s like a detour.� By taking the carboxylic acid group (made of carbon, hydrogen and oxygen) away from the fatty acids, researchers produce a hydrocarbon. It is the hydrocarbons that can be processed into fuel.

Del Cardayre says that bacteria fuel is not an �alternative� to petroleum. �We�re dependent on petroleum, so we don�t need some alternative to petroleum,� he asserts. �We need a way to make petroleum itself. Biology can do it. Over the course of billions of years, cells have figured out that hydrocarbons are a good way to store energy.�