A scientific exploration of hot springs in Iceland has uncovered a new strain of bacteria which is able to produce hydrogen and ethanol fuels.
A new report suggests that the bacteria could use the wastewater from factories which process plant material for energy production.
Ethanol and hydrogen are seen as the two most viable candidates to replace carbon-based fuels in the future. Scientists can already create these fuels with the help of bacteria but have been looking for bacteria which are capable of enduring higher temperatures, as this makes the process more efficient.
Since heat-loving bacteria abound in the hot springs of Iceland, it was a natural choice for a bio-prospecting mission.
Scientists screened samples from various hot springs, including areas which were near 100 degrees centigrade, and found micro-organisms capable of producing biofuels from glucose and cellulose.
The discovery is a huge boost for the development of alternative energy, especially for sugar producers who may soon find a new market for their crops in the EU. Not only would cost-effective measures of producing biofuels from local crops help countries in Africa, the Caribbean and the Pacific help local economies, it could gain them more foreign exchange through the sale of biofuels to countries with a demand for environmentally friendly fuel, like America and Europe.
This is promising. I think that the world holds many resources that we have yet to tap into and the more we find out about our planet, the more we learn that nature and creation has all we need and more to function and succeed without ruining our planet in the process.
esto se podria desarrollar en Coamo en las aguas termales,que tu crees?
(this could be developed at the hot springs in Coamo (a town in Puerto Rico) – what do you think?) ed.