OSU Researchers Discover Process for Doubling Production of Biofuel Alternative to Gasoline

Engineers at OSU have discovered a process for improving conventional methods of brewing butanol in a bacterial fermentation tank that could double the production of the biofuel.  Butanol is currently primarily used as a solvent or an industrial chemical; some believe it could one day replace gasoline for use in automobiles. 

With conventional methods, bacteria could only produce approximately 15 grams of butanol per liter of water in a tank before the tank becomes too toxic for the bacteria to survive.  However Shang-Tian Yang, OSU professor of chemical and bimolecular engineering, and his team developed a mutant strain of a particular bacterium in a bioreactor containing bundles of polyester fibers.  In that environment, the mutant bacterium is capable of producing up to 30 grams of butanol per liter of water. 

Butanol is thought to be able to produce more energy than other alternative fuels such as ethanol.  The research team is applying for a patent on the mutant bacterium and the process.  They plan to work with industry to commercialize the technology.

For more information, see the release from OSU.