Fuel and Energy Alternatives

Dow chemical has given some backing to a startup, algenolbiofuels, that has a process to create ethanol as a byproduct of algae. This process apparently uses genetically modified cyanobacteria to convert carbon dioxide into ethanol. Their goal is 100,000 gallons of ethanol per year. (Seems a bit small actually….) I would hope that the genetically altered algea cannot find a way back out into the wild. The bioreactor apparently is a container with saltwater that has been pumped in from the sea.

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This from the WOW – “where can I get some of that” category. A fungus has been found growing in the Patagonian Rainforest that naturally synthesizes a hydro-carbon compound that dramatically resembles diesel. From the article:

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Last night our local news had a story on the exciting potential of the Jatropha nut for biofuel purposes. They talked about how well it grew in marginal soils, so I looked online. The first thing I found was this story. The Jatropha plant can grow in barren, marginal land that it appears otherwise would not support other major crops. However, it isn’t without it’s drawbacks.

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