These guys area apparently producing diesel.. "naturally"

A whole new BioDiesel. If we can make this work imagine the possibilities.

Energy in America: New Liquid Fuel Faster, More Efficient -- and Greener, Too - FoxNews.com

 

If it does work and become a viable way to produce fuel, America might just be at the top of the world's energy supplies again. It would be GREAT for America, as I feel that in order for America to be on top again, it will require something major. We are never going to get there on the path we are on.

 

I agree. This could put us back on top. We havnt been king since Andrew Carnegie mastered steel production. We need something like this that will put us back on top. When the rest of the world runs out of crude, we will have the answer.

Personally, I think that we are going to get to the point where gas becomes more expensive that can be feasible before we find a good replacement. This could change that. Its exciting to think about.

 

I can't read the article from here, but I'm skeptical. It's been too long since chemistry class but where's the combustible fuel from those ingredients? The hydrogen from the water and carbon from CO2 form a hydrocarbon? Sounds like it would take more energy to break all those bonds than it created. There aint so such thing as a free lunch.

 

When you read the article you will understand. The fuel is excreted by a naturally occurring bacteria.

 

Actually, it's a naturally-occurring bacteria that has been genetically modified. The "fuel" produced is is a byproduct of a photosynthetic process.

 

Same difference

I think maverick was more talking about the energy needed to somehow make diesel out of water and CO2. I would imagine that genetically modifying glow worms (thats what I call them now.. In reference to glow plugs) would be much less because it can usually be done with chemicals and food. At least thats how they do it with plants. I worked at a company that genetically altered plants for new colors and resistance to disease and stuff, pretty cool.

 

Its about time! It took everyone nearly 100 years to start running diesels on what they were designed to run on (peanut oil) in the first place. With technology as advanced as it is now you think they would have figured this out already. Ethenal is crap and less efficient then gas. NASA has a small fleet of BMW's running on hydrogen for almost 10 years out a Cape Canaveral. End rant...

 

Very cool... but keep this about the technology, not the politics.

 

There was a good article with pictures about this on Yahoo in February, but it no longer exists now. Very interesting read, would be interesting to see it pan out.

 

I have a time lapse camera set up on a pilot production plant in Gila Bend, Az. It is viable and they are spending millions on the technology! Even documenting the building of the facility in time lapse! Works for me!
Jim...& fat Monty

 

My only concern with the process is the use of water. I don't know how H2O intensive the process is but it concerns me nonetheless.

According to the article they can use waste water; will waste water be used exclusively? If that's the case, how much waste water will be dependably available? Will the supply of waste water be adequate if the demand of this fuel increases? Where will it come from? How will it be transported to the facility?...I wonder if salt water could be used.

 

Ok, I finally had a chance to read it. I'm somewhat less skeptical. It sounds similar to the algae diesel but w/ out having to press the algae to extract the oil. It never said how easy it is to extract the chemical from the bacteria though. The use of CO2 is good and in theory solves a lot of problems. I could see power plants installing this type of system primarlily to dispose of the CO2. Time will tell, but like almost every other alternative fuel it's not ready for prime time yet.


I'm actually not too concerned about the water use. Honestly it doesn't sound that water intensive as I see nothing to prevent recycling of the water. I would think the waste water would have to be filtered very well however to prevent any outside bacteria from mingling w/ Trey's glow worms.