It would not be a surprise to anyone in the field if some other feedstock displaces corn for ethanol production. But I’m a little skeptical of a story that touts production from a “photosynthetic microorganism” as producing energy from sunlight and CO2 without the use of biomass feedstocks. Whoever wrote the article seems not to understand what a photosynthetic microorganism is, which is pretty basic to the process.
Well, photosynthesis does combine H2O + CO2 -> CxHxO + generally O2 so not sure what feedstock you think is needed. Photosynthesis is pretty much at the bottom of the carbohydrate chain.
This is fascinating to see in my opinion. I hope it works. Iit makes sense chemically and the use of Cyanobacteria seems very plausible. If the ethanol is employed hydrous instead of anhydrous then it can be harvested by evaporation/distillation and the remaining water recycled b
I like it.
Alcohol is a waste product from some types of micro-organisms (yeasts), often ones that feed on starches. These are used in brewing.
This new process uses special algae that feed on CO2 bubbled up through clear cylinders, using the energy from sunlight to convert it and other nutrients to the things it needs to survive, grow and reproduce. Its waste product is fuel.
Most of what it needs to grow and produce fuel has been labeled by the EPA as “pollution”, i.e. CO2, Nitrogen, Phosphates...
You know, the normal process whereby “Mother Earth” becomes green...