Researchers at the University of California, Los Angeles have found a way to produce long-chain alcohols that are essential in the creation of biofuels from E-coli.

Escherichia coli thrives naturally in warm places and is often associated with food poisoning, the small intestine and fecal matter. What has essentially been waste since the start of human life could now be forms of energy such as jet fuel, gasoline, and other petroleum products! The strain of bacteria has been modified by the UCLA scientists to increase the potential energy of fuels.

"Lead scientist James Liao, at the UCLA Henry Samueli School of Engineering and Applied Science, says the E. coli will be able to create biofuels that reduce pollution and deliver much more energy per molecule than traditional biofuels like Ethanol." The greater number of carbon atoms from the bacteria will increase the density of the biofuel, the UCLA team said.

Ethanol only has two carbon atoms per molecule, while this modified strain carries between five and eight.

Courtesy: UCLA