Medical Villain to Environmental Savior - The Potential Role of E. coli in Bio Diesel Production

Posted: Sep 15, 2013
Author: Bumgarner Oil

Mention E. coli in polite society, and the usual reaction is one of shock and embarrassment. This bacterium is often associated with food poisoning, sewage spills and disease. In truth, most strains of E. coli are harmless, but the few serotypes that have the ability to cause food poisoning in humans give the whole spectrum a bad name.

Not only are most strains of E. coli harmless, but they can even be beneficial, as they have the ability to convert sugars into fats – and this ability has been used for some time in manufacturing processes within the pharmaceutical industry.

Now another, potentially revolutionary, use for E. coli has been discovered. They may be able to produce a synthetic form of bio diesel that has almost the same properties as petroleum diesel, making it ideal for use in diesel-powered vehicles that will not need any kind of modification or special care to run on this type of bio diesel fuel.

On April 22, 2013, ScienceDaily reported that a team of scientists from the University of Exeter in South West England, supported by Shell, has pioneered a method to make bio diesel from biomass by using E. coli as a catalyst.

If you are in need of bio diesel in Hickory NC or would simply like more information, feel free to contact us at Bumgarner Oil. We have been servicing gas stations, commercial contracts, and residential homes since 1954. We're a local oil company that you can trust!