Production of biodiesel from mushrooms

According to the study published in the journal Energy and Fuel of the American Chemical Society, in the process of finding alternative sources of raw materials for biodiesel production, in addition to soybeans, palm and oil-bearing plants can be used as food, there is also a promising material: mushrooms or mold. This type of material produces a large amount of eco-friendly biodiesel with low cost.

Victoriano Garre and colleagues of the study believe that industrial parks often produce biodiesel from vegetable oils such as grape seed, palm and beans. However, the expansion of production from these sources may increase food shortages and rising food prices. To meet the demand for biofuels, scientists are looking for sources other than plants. Microorganisms such as fungi that occupy very little area to grow are ideal 'candidates'. However, scientists must first find a fungus that can produce a large amount of biodiesel.

In this study, scientists described the process of oil metabolism from a fungus named Mucor circinelloides into biodiesel without even extracting oil from growing crops. Biodiesel obtained from mushrooms has met the commercial requirements of the United States and Europe and can be produced on a commercial scale.