Converting Sunlight Into Liquid Fuel With a Bionic Leaf

hypnosec writes: Artificial leaf techology made waves the moment it was announced by Daniel Nocera back in 2011. His latest research, published in PNAS, involves gathering hydrogen from this artificial leaf, carbon dioxide from another source, and feeding it to Ralstonia eutropha bacteria to create liquid fuel. Once the materials are fed to the bacteria, "An enzyme takes the hydrogen back to protons and electrons, then combines them with carbon dioxide to replicate—making more cells. Next, ... new pathways in the bacterium are metabolically engineered to make isopropanol." Researchers say the same process could be used to make vitamins.

Comments

Re:energy balance doesn't work out

[gstoddart]

Hmmmm .... 100 square kms ... producing flammable alcohol.

Have you seriously thought about this?

The first guy to realize he can light a match and have hilarity ensue will probably create something visible from orbit, and get himself a Darwin award.

Actually, scratch that ... bring it on! That would be funny.