While plant-based biofuels hold a lot of promise, many of these fuels require complicated, expensive, energy-intensive processes to make even a little sustainable fuel. Hoping to find influence or a breakthrough from Mother Nature, researchers at the Oak Ridge National Laboratory are turning to the bubbling cauldrons of Yellowstone National Park. They are looking for a strain of bacteria that can break down biomass into usable biofuels in a single, “one-pot” process.
The “one-pot” biofuel solution would streamline the breakdown process, allowing biomass to be thrown into a cauldron with a microorganism that breaks down the plant matter and produces usable ethanol, no further steps required. Right now most plant-to-ethanol conversion processes require multiple stages at high temperatures and pressures in order to break down the lignin, which allows plants to form rigid, upright bodies.
The Oak Ridge researchers are hoping to find a bacteria in Yellowstone’s natural hot springs that can break down lignin in a one-pot process that is both cost and time efficient. Their studies have led them to Caldicellulosiruptor obsidiansis, a natural bacteria found in the hot springs that does its best work at high temperatures.
C. obsidiansis was tested against four carbon structures, including switchgrass. The researchers studied the reaction to switchgrass as the bacteria processed an expanded set of proteins to help break down the plant’s cell structure. Researchers hope that this natural bacteria can lead them to discovering a new process for creating biofuels from plant matter. Other research has show the potential for bacteria like E. coli to turn plants into fuel, but perhaps Yellowstone’s famous hot springs hold the secret to sustainable fuel.
Source: Oak Ride National Laboratory
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About Christopher DeMorro
Combining geothermal power plants with this potential technology could be the answer to several regions in the US. Designing the engines to run on pure alcohol ( F1 race cars?) for efficient transportation ( commuter cars ) could be the next big step away from petrol for transportation.
Good point about Geothermal. Why are we not tapping Yellowstone for geothermal power? There is enough clean, renewable geothermal coming out of Yellowstone to power the entie midwest easy. Same thing with Hawaii, they still barge over diesel to run generators to make electricity, ug how stupid. Why are they not expanding geothermal power on Hawaii? They have one small plant but they need 100X that. Imagine all of Hawaii completely energy independant, all EVs (including large tour busses that could be all electric), extensive charging infrastructure all powered by geothermal and solar, both of which are very abundant.
Excellent question! I have combed the web for answers as to why geothermal has not been exploited. here is what I have found: 1) Hi initial capital cost (I doubt it is higher than nuclear) 2) Some California geothermal plants have been associated with increased seismic activity (seems like keeping plants in remote areas would mitigate that problem). I’d love to see some hard facts, especially that are applicable to Hawaii.