Yorkshire Philosophical Society

Event Information

From Paris to Hull: the Science of Biofuels

Gavin Thomas, Department of Biology, University of York

Report

Biofuels are made by partial fermentation of glucose by microbes – a process first proved by Pasteur in Paris. Impressive diagrams demonstrated the biochemical pathways involved in manufacture. First generation processes unfortunately all use crop plants. Classic examples are the production of ethanol from the yeast fermentation of the glucose in either cooked corn (in the US) or cane sugar (in Brazil). Vivergo now have a large factory in Hull using feed wheat. A better biofuel is n-butanol, made with acetone and ethanol by anaerobic fermentation using a strain of Clostridium bacteria – a factory is being built by Ensus at Middlesborough. Biodiesel is made from rapeseed, soya bean, etc. Second generation processes digest lignocelluloses from the cheaper woody parts of plants, while third generation processes will use microbes to make the enzymes needed for fermentation. A good debate followed the meeting, on the impact of biofuels on global food shortages.

Rod Leonard