Bacteria and energy

Bacteria may be the answer to our global energy crisis. By fermenting biomass to produce biofuels, they are the solution to the lack of fossil fuel supply and harm the environment. Review by Professor Arnold Demain from Drew University, New Jersey, USA, about how bacteria can be used to counter the energy crisis, recently published in Springer Magazine on Technology. Biology and bacteria biology.

According to Professor Demain, the US-based petroleum economy is coming to an end. Global oil reserves and new petroleum discoveries will not be enough to address the world's annual demand. Therefore, it is necessary to predict and avoid future energy shortages and provide new bioenergy options for the market.

E.coli bacteria. Future energy sources. (Photo: Rocky Mountain Laboratory )

In the context of many political and economic debates in the gradual replacement of petroleum by other options such as biofuels, Demain said how bacteria can help solve energy problems, and focus on organisms that ferment lignocellulosic biomass to produce ethanol, butanol, diesel and bio-hydrocarbons . His review also emphasized that the use of biofuels will contribute to reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Plants that produce biomass remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere as their normal development mechanism.

Demain also focused on a number of important commercial developments, including the establishment of biotechnology businesses in the biofuels sector since 2006, both individually and in conjunction with petroleum businesses and chemical industry . In addition, there are a number of US government solutions that promote and assist the development of biofuels.

Demain concludes: 'The rest is a major effort and challenge for biochemical techniques in new plants grown for biofuel production. New processes need to be multiplied on a large scale and implemented at the lowest cost possible. The future of biofuels is very bright . and the best thing is still ahead. '