Scientists create bacteria that eat junk, produce oil

[JBsZ06]

Scientists create bacteria that eat junk, produce oil
Posted Jun 18th 2008 9:31AM by Jonathon Ramsey
Filed under: Etc., Green, Tech

A company called LS9 is creating nearly pump-ready oil using single-celled bacteria. They start with industrial yeast organisms or "non-pathogenic strains of E. coli," and redesign their DNA so that they produce a different kind of waste. Crude oil is not far removed, molecularly, from the fatty acids expelled by yeast or E. coli during fermentation, so a little bit of DNA alteration bypasses the fatty acids and produces "Oil 2.0."

The "bugs" can be fed a variety of feedstock, from politically sensitive corn to Brazilian sugar cane to California wheat straw to Southern wood chips. The result is the same: crude oil that is almost ready to pour into your car. What's more: the enterprise is carbon negative, putting out less CO2 than the operation requires. At the moment it takes a 1,000-liter fermentation machine one week to make a 40-gallon drum of crude.

It will be a moment before they have a seamless industrial-sized operation. And there is that little concern of hundreds of billions of genetically-altered critters getting free and wreaking havoc on kids and puppies. But the promise of a steady supply of safely created $40 oil -- because even the Volt will need oil -- is not a bad thing to consider

[Blue Demon Owner]

The potential is incredible! I searched and found their website: www.ls9.com

As more of us look into this company, please post any further information you might obtain. Unfortunately, it is privately held per info on their website.

Blue Demon Owner

[BillF6531]

Before you get too excited about this, watch the video, and especially the eye movements. Then read the info here: http://www.blifaloo.com/info/lies_eyes.php

[c4c5specialist]

Well, we have had bacteria that does consume biodegradable things like that for years.
But to be able to obtain oil from it, that would be interesting.
Allthebest, c4c5

[Vette09]

Originally Posted by c4c5specialist

Well, we have had bacteria that does consume biodegradable things like that for years.
But to be able to obtain oil from it, that would be interesting.
Allthebest, c4c5

i guess we should start digging for bacteria? lol