New technique uses most abundant gas on Earth to help create bioethanol

Zymomonas mobilis bacterium might be tricky to say, but this bioethanol-producing microbe could become a household name if Indiana University biologists have their way. The biologists claim have found a quicker, cheaper, cleaner way to increase bioethanol production in this microorganism by using the most abundant element in the Earth’s atmosphere: nitrogen gas (N₂). By replacing chemical fertilizers with N₂, production costs could be slashed and cellulose ethanol derived from wood pulp made much more economically viable – so much so that the researchers believe it may compete with corn ethanol and gasoline on price... Continue Reading New technique uses most abundant gas on Earth to help create bioethanol

Section: Science

Tags: Bacteria, Biomass, Cellulosic, Ethanol, Indiana University, Microbes

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