TECHNOLOGY FOR CHANGE

Whisky Byproducts Make Powerful Biofuel

Rebecca Kutzer-Rice | Date: 08-27-10 | Comments

In creating a new biofuel, several Scottish scientists are turning to their country's favorite beverage: whisky. The new fuel, which uses whisky byproducts, can be used in normal car engines alone or with a mix of gasoline.

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Whisky Byproducts Make Powerful Biofuel - Small Amounts Will Make Big Difference

An especially exciting aspect of the whisky biofuel is that it can be used in a car's current engine by itself or mixed with other fuels.

Martin Tangney is the lead researcher behind the Edinburgh Napier University project to make biofuel from whisky byproducts (source: Reuters).

Just mixing a small percentage of the biofuel into normal gasoline could have a positive environmental impact.

"Five or 10 percent [of biofuel] means less oil, which would make a big, big difference," Tangney said.

Butanol fermentation, the method by which the biofuel is created, was pioneered by Chaim Weizmann, the World War II refugee who became the first president of Israel. The technology was originally used to produce rubber synthetically.

In a statement, Jim Mather, the Scottish Minister for Enterprise, Energy, and Tourism, sounded enthusiastic about the project. "I support the development and use of sustainable biofuels," he said. "This innovative use of waste products demonstrates a new sustainable option for the biofuel industry, while also supporting the economic and environmental objectives of the Scottish Government's new Zero Waste Plan. In these challenging economic times we need to play to our strengths and take advantage of the low carbon opportunities of the future. It's exactly this type of innovation that will help sustain economic recovery and deliver future sustainable economic growth."

Whisky isn't the only alcohol that's undergoing a green makeover. Recently at Smarter Tech, we explored how beer companies are working to use less water in making their products.