I read an article recently that scientists are close to being able to make fuel from bacteria - a technology that has been in the news for the past couple of months.  Not  surprising, as microorganisms produce gases that turn waste into energy through a metabolic chemical reaction process on the bacteria’s part.

Not only is the waste we produce being used to generate fuel and energy, but now tiny microorganisms are jumping on the energy-efficient bandwagon as well. We are a cyclical world — we use materials, an action that generates waste, which can be used to produce fuel and energy, thus producing more trash to recycle into more renewables. And now, the organisms that help us sustain life in other ways, are transforming nutrients and energy into waste for our fuel use. They’ve been doing this for centuries, but as energy efficiency, renewables and alternative energies are taking a more prominent position in the news in categories including technologies and public policy with the upcoming U.S. presidential elections, creative ways of generating power, fuel and energy are being sought.

Generating renewables from trash is like Native Americans using buffalo in early days — nothing went to waste (bones for weapons, meat for food, hide for clothing and shelter). We use the product that created the trash and then use the microorganisms that result from the decomposing trash to help produce power, for example.

It’s great that scientists, environmentalists and the like are conscious of global warming and the need to make the most of our resources, but is it efficient? Can enough energy be produced from the bacteria to make the process worthwhile and have a noticeable impact on energy production and consumption?

The answer appears to be maybe?

“By working together the two types of bacteria can produce much more hydrogen than either could alone,” said Dr Mark Redwood in the Science Daily article about bacteria producing power. “A significant challenge for the development of this process to a productive scale is to design a kind of photobioreactor that is cheap to construct and able to harvest light from a large area. A second issue is connecting the process with a reliable supply of sugary feedstock.”

It may appear “out there” to some, but some research organizations say the application is closer than we may think.

Weigh in — is this far-fetched science fiction, or plausible science?

 

This entry was posted on Friday, August 22nd, 2008 at 4:05 pm and is filed under Technology. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.