Cheap renewable energy is a major goal of many countries.
Although wind, solar, and hydro power are supplements to the power grid, they
cannot be efficiently converted into the liquid biofuels needed for cars, ships,
and planes. In contrast, photosynthetic microbes are not only the most efficient
organisms for solar energy conversion, but they have been shown to be able to
produce fatty acids capable of being made into liquid biofuels. Based on this,
it is expected that there will be a high demand for microbes capable of
producing fatty acids, especially ones with minimal processing and extraction
costs.
Researchers at the Biodesign Institute of Arizona State
University have developed a cyanobacterium that secretes fatty acids during the
stationary growth phase and is capable of induced autolysis. Consequently, the
invention also provides a method of producing and harvesting the fatty acids in
the presence of sunlight and CO2.
There is an understandable trend away from using foods crops
as the primary feedstock for energy production. The use of photosynthetic
bacteria that secret the fatty acid precursors to liquid biofuel represents an
attractive alternative.
Potential Applications
Benefits and Advantages
- Photosynthetic organisms typically out produce any plant
based biofuel system.
- Production is regulated and controllable at the genetic
level.
- Algae and cyanobacteria growth is renewable and
efficient.
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For more information about the inventor(s) and their
research, please see
Dr.
Curtiss' directory webpage
Dr.
Curtiss' departmental webpage
