Gadzooks, in the year 3000, how to you think... 
we power the Planet Express rocket ship?
Posted on 10/03/2011 5:45:41 AM PDT by Red Badger
Scientists on Sunday said they had gained insights into a remarkable bacterium that lives without oxygen and transforms ammonium, the ingredient of urine, into hydrazine, a rocket fuel.
So-called anammox -- for anaerobic ammonium oxidation -- germs caused a sensation when they were first identified in the 1990s, but uncovering their secrets is taking time.
In a letter published by the British science journal Nature, researchers at Radboud University Nijmegen in the Netherlands reported they had identified the molecular mechanism by which the bugs do their fuel-trick.
"Proving this was quite a feat," said Mike Jetten, professor of microbiology at the university's Institute for Water and Wetland Research.
"We had to deploy a range of new experimental methods. In the end, we managed to isolate the protein complex responsible for hydrazine production, a beautifully red mixture."
The team's work initially piqued NASA's interest, but this faded when the US space agency learned that only small quantities of precious hydrazine are produced, "nothing like enough to get a rocket to Mars," said Jetten.
"Now we are accurately determining the crystal structure of the protein complex. Perhaps we can improve the production process if we have a better understanding of how the protein complex fits together."
Anammox is now used commercially in water purification because it is so energy-efficient in breaking down ammonia.
It also has potential applications as a biofuel, cleaning up sewerage sludge without the need for pumps to provide air, and providing methane in return.
Ping........
Think of all the “yellow jobs” that will be created. ;-)
Must be the Bear Grylls beetle...
I once read that in ancient China, urine was collected via a series of bamboo gutters (like rain gutters) that allowed the urine to flow from dwellings to a central collection tank. It was used as an ingredient in “gunpowder.”
Very clever. There’s not anything they can’t do with bamboo.....
Is it Ammonium Nitrate that you are talking about?
Gadzooks, in the year 3000, how to you think... we power the Planet Express rocket ship?
(b) I fail to see how this relates to your area of responsibility, namely the dieselification of America.
(c) I must however, give you credit for finally explaining the scientific reasoning behind the current administration's energy policies.
(d) It also explains why the current administration and the Mombasa Moonbeam regularly employ dorsal micturation techniques on the public, and then tell us we caused the rain.
(e) The real untold story here is the location of these miracle bugs. Perhaps some learned proctologist among our number could weigh in with this information?
LAST LINE IN ARTICLE:
It also has potential applications as a biofuel, cleaning up sewerage sludge without the need for pumps to provide air, and providing methane in return.
Thanks for the ping! Taking a number one will never be the same again!
I’m recovering from prostate surgery and am trying to relearn to hold my pee, ugh. My present leakage could send a man to the moon with this scientific development.
Forgive my ill-founded charge of neglect. Between the Hydrazine, the Ammonium Nitrate, and the Methane, I passed out before I was able to complete the article.
Convinced, I am saving product in a big jar, pending the arrival of my FIAT 500D. By adding a retired race horse to my stable, raw material production will climb dramatically, if he can be trained to use the jar.
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