A biofuel start-up in California claims to have made a breakthrough in converting non-food biomass in biodiesel using a genetically modified e. coli bacteria. The start-up LS9 utilized research done by the University of California at Berkeley, and the U.S. Department of Energy’s Joint BioEnergy Institute.
The non-food biomass that was utilized came from wood chips, corn sotver, and other residual agricultural products. LS9 published their findings in the journal Nature. LS9 is one of a handful of U.S. synthetic biology companies that are manipulating microorganisms to convert plants into liquid fuels or plastics. Next week, LS9 will announce the planned location of a demonstration facility in the U.S. to convert sugar cane into biodiesel using an existing organism. That plant, which will use an existing microorganism, will open this summer and pave the way for large-scale manufacturing. LS9 research with the University of California and the Department of Energy also focuses on a single-step biorefinery process. But researchers tuned another strain of e. coli that can work with different feedstocks, such as straw or wood. Those cellulosic feedstocks are typically harder to convert into fuel through fermentation than sugar cane or corn, but offer the potential of lower overall greenhouse gas emissions. LS9 is one of a handful of of U.S. synthetic biology companies that are manipulating microorganisms to convert plants into liquid fuels or plastics. Agricultural residual stock is a large waste issue for the U.S. The ability to use this spent biomass and its conversion to clean burning biodiesel is a huge technological advantage. Once the prototype plant can prove its viability, the rush to harness this new liquid gold will come from private investors, and these new biology companies.
Photo: Strain of e. coli bacteria
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