Not Just Bread and Beer: Microbes Can Ferment Carbon Dioxide To Make Fuel
To make a loaf of bread that rises nicely, bakers ferment the dough. Similar to this, brewers ferment wheat and barley to produce smooth, malty beer. Some microorganisms can even produce more, making them the best bakers and brewers in nature. In reality, certain types of bacteria use the fermentation process to create their own preferred nutrients from carbon dioxide (CO2) gas. This may be used to energise the planet. Scientists who research the subtle and intricate chemical processes in bacteria are aware of this remarkable ability—fermenting CO2 into chemical energy. One of them is Wei Xiong, a researcher at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), who claims that gas-fermenting bacteria can teach us how to convert waste gases like CO2 into sustainable fuels. "As CO2 is the primary heat-trapping (greenhouse) gas in the atmosphere, CO2 removal and conversion are of global concern. The key is pathways for CO2 fixation, according to Xiong. We are particularly interested in...