Researchers Engineer E. Coli to Produce Gasoline From Switchgrass

The U.S. Dept. of Energy's Joint BioEnergy Institute has engineered E. coli to make gasoline, diesel and jet fuel from switchgrass.

Researchers at the U.S. Dept. of Energy's (DOE) Joint BioEnergy Institute (JBEI) have been able to engineer Escherichia coli, better known as E. coli, to use both cellulose and hemicellulose fractions of switchgrass to make gasoline, diesel and jet fuel substitutes. 

Previous attempts to use E. coli for fuel production have been unable to make all three types of fuels. This is also the first time it has been done using switchgrass, said to be a good source for advanced biofuels.

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