home *** CD-ROM | disk | FTP | other *** search
- Path: sparky!uunet!crdgw1!rdsunx.crd.ge.com!NewsWatcher!user
- From: Ligon@macgw1.ge.com (Woody Ligon)
- Newsgroups: sci.space
- Subject: Re: Energy production on Earth
- Message-ID: <Ligon-040193141304@3.1.100.11>
- Date: 4 Jan 93 19:30:26 GMT
- References: <C0C251.Cxz.1@cs.cmu.edu>
- Sender: usenet@crd.ge.com (Required for NNTP)
- Followup-To: sci.space
- Distribution: usa
- Organization: GE-CRD
- Lines: 44
- Nntp-Posting-Host: 3.1.100.11
-
- In article <C0C251.Cxz.1@cs.cmu.edu>, roberts@cmr.ncsl.nist.gov (John
- Roberts) wrote:
- >
- >
- > Regarding the utilization of energy sources on Earth, which was discussed
- > in the context of importing energy from space:
- >
- > A report on the radio this morning described a genetically engineered
- > bacterium, in which two genes were spliced in to allow it to do a very
- > good job of converting complex carbohydrates (including celluose) into
- > ethanol. Evidently the project is far enough along that there are plans
- > to build a plant in New York, to produce 15(?) million gallons of ethanol
- > per year from paper mill sludge.
- >
- > Now, let's hope the bacterium doesn't get loose in the environment, or
- > that it requires something to live that's found only in the culture tanks. :-)
- >
- > John Roberts
- > roberts@cmr.ncsl.nist.gov
-
- Well yes I guess that could be a problem, but if most attempts to grow
- microorganisms in "megaculture" offer any lessons then just the opposite is
- more likely.
-
- Usually what happens is that the cultures become contaminated with
- something far more competitive than the "special bug" and the special bug
- just gets killed off by the competition. Alternatively the special bug may
- grow competitively only under very narrowly defined conditions. Such
- conditions are quite hard to maintain with a heterogenous feedstock like
- forest products. Also variables as simple as temperature control are not
- always easy to maintain between for example--winter and summer. I would
- like to hear comments from the people who make antibiotics by fermentation
- on the probability of success here.
-
- It is a very long jump from the lab to tons and tons of paper pulp which
- may be none too sterile. This particular dream (cellulose ---> ethanol) has
- been around for a long time. I, for one, will believe it when someone
- actually makes a buck on it.
-
- Woody Ligon
- Standard Disclaimer Applies
- (ligon@macgw1.crd.ge.com)
-
-
-