Bacteria that excrete crude oil

[Tadashi]

I wonder how long it will take them to implement.

BLUF: Genetically altered bacteria can make 35 cubic feet of garbage (fermentation machine taking up 40 sq ft of space) will make 1 barrel of crude oil which is 42 US gal per week. This equals to 19.5 gal of gas plus other stuff (ie cooking oil). It is considered carbon negative (uses more carbon to make than to burn).

Times of London Article

[jayman]

This is fascinating research. There are bacteria that "eat" crude and diesel fuel, why not bacteria that excrete crude?

I think a lot of folks would have justifiable concerns over the safety of genetically altered organisms. Although this approach wouldn't have a hope of replacing more than a small fraction of our current crude consumption, it's nice to take a "waste" material and turn it into something useful

[dallas27]

Thermal Depolymerization

[Tadashi]

The only drawback that I can think of is that this relies on a living organism. Mother nature has a habit of changing the rules when you least expect it. They would have to closely monitor the the bacteria to ensure it does not mutate into something else. Flesh eating bacteria that turns people into zombies. - okay maybe I have been watching too many movies.

[mingoglia]

Originally Posted by Tadashi

They would have to closely monitor the the bacteria to ensure it does not mutate into something else. Flesh eating bacteria that turns people into zombies. - okay maybe I have been watching too many movies.

[hiremichaelreid]

Originally Posted by Tadashi

The only drawback that I can think of is that this relies on a living organism. Mother nature has a habit of changing the rules when you least expect it. They would have to closely monitor the the bacteria to ensure it does not mutate into something else. Flesh eating bacteria that turns people into zombies. - okay maybe I have been watching too many movies.

Yeah, you think the world has "oil security" issues now.... Just wait until the oil becomes alive and turns on us !!


Anyway, I've heard just about all these ideas before. These articles come out now when oil is high of course. It IS interesting just as science, but wake me up when they have a commercially viable solution.

...

[sendconroymail]

If you watch the documentary "A Crude Awakening" you will see why this will not help us. The amount of oil we consume in the world is incredible. There would not be enough organic material to fulfil the amount of oil we consume. Basically without oil (or a breakthrough in solar, etc...) the amount of energy consumed each year (in the world) cannot be handled organically. The experts agree organic energy could sustain about 1.5-2 billion people on the planet. Like I said you should really watch that documentary.

[sendconroymail]

Originally Posted by hiremichaelreid

...snip... but wake me up when they have a commercially viable solution.
...

If our politicians don't wake up and start pouring money into alternate forms of energy research you will get a REAL wakeup when our energy resources are not enough for the planets 6 billion plus people. Our whole financial system is based on cheap energy.

[HomeandRanch]

Originally Posted by sendconroymail

If our politicians don't wake up and start pouring money into alternate forms of energy research you will get a REAL wakeup when our energy resources are not enough for the planets 6 billion plus people. Our whole financial system is based on cheap energy.

Along with alternatives drill the living crap out of ANWAR and the cont. shelf. We need everything now, not some now some never.

We don't need politicians to do anything we just need them to get out of the way.

[ZC1]

Originally Posted by Tadashi

Genetically altered bacteria can make 35 cubic feet of garbage (fermentation machine taking up 40 sq ft of space) will make 1 barrel of crude oil which is 42 US gal per week.

Aren't we all genetically altered bacteria who make more than 35 cubic feet of garbage?
I think we have them beat!

ZC1