Biodiesel is often touted as being one way to reduce dependence upon fossil fuels and is usually derived from vegetable oil lipids (fats). Although biodiesel fats can be derived from rapeseed, soybeans or animal fats, though recently jatropha, coconut, flax, hemp and palm oil have also made headlines as being substitute fuel oils, at least for high-profile bio-diesel publicity campaigns.
Other sources of biodiesel production have been identified, such as from algae (Chinese Algae Farming) and genetically modified human stomach bacteria (Algae and Bacteria Oil).
Now it is the turn of the plant kingdom to offer up yet another savior for humanities insatiable appetite for hydrocarbon fuels – the humble fungi, though in reality fungi are far from humble and may even be one of the world’s most prolific life-forms. There are literally hundreds of thousands of different types of fungus, and they grow in all parts of the world, from the coldest and hottest regions, to the wettest and driest, sometimes working in symbiosis with animals and other plants, and helping to decompose plant and animal matter.
In a recently released study by Spanish researchers in the Department of Chemical and Environmental Technology, Universidad Rey Juan Carlos, Madrid and the Departamento de Gentica y Microbiology, Universidad de Murcia, Murcia, there is the proposal to use fungus to manufacture biodiesel. The fungus Mucor Circinelloides is identified as being a good candidate to produce biodiesel lipids as it can easily grow in industrial vats and does not compete with food resources. The recommendation is to genetically modify the fungus to increase its lipid production, with the added benefit that it can also be used as an animal feed.
Although I applaud the efforts to find alternatives to fossil fuel use, I can't help but wonder what other problems we might be creating for the planet and all its inhabitants, by genetically modifying plants, bacteria and fungi, then employing them in industrial scale processes to satisfy our growing demands as the all consuming species on the planet.
Resources
Direct Transformation of Fungal Biomass from Submerged Cultures into Biodiesel
Genome of fungus Mucor Circinelloides
Trevor Williams is a University of Victoria Mechanical Engineering PhD candidate specializing in renewable energy, power grid modeling and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles. He has a bachelors in Aeronautical Engineering, a Masters in Management Science and over 23 years international experience in the space industry, having worked on Earth observation and telecommunications satellites. He is the author of the Eco-Geek blog.
written by Admin , March 08, 2011
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-Mathias
written by Mathias Maehlum , August 23, 2011
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written by MES , March 08, 2011