Engineered bacteria enhances biofuel composition

Better biofuel composition could be achieved with engineered bacteria created at the Georgia Institute of Technology.

The bacterial strain Zymomonas mobilis is the subject of the research, which focuses on xylitol metabolism as a means of enhancing xylose fermentation.

Lead author Rachel Chen says: "Z mobilis is a superb ethanol producer with productivity exceeding yeast strains by several-fold."

She adds: "We sought to improve ethanol production by enhancing the ability of Z mobilis to use and ferment xylose."

The benefits for biofuel composition derive from the faster fermentation that occurs in strains of the bacteria which have been metabolically altered.

As well as accelerating the process, this also has the potential to raise the levels of ethanol produced as higher concentrations of xylose can be successfully fermented by the bacteria.

Georgia Tech specialises in research with the potential to improve the lives of humans through innovation in technology and science.