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Bacteria might be the answer for the future of diesel fuel as scientists from the University of Exeter in the United Kingdom announced that they have discovered how to make bacteria produce diesel on command. In a study that was supported and funded by Shell Research Ltd, the scientists found that certain strains of E. coli bacteria can successfully make diesel that was considered to be almost identical to conventional diesel fuel. Although this study and the technology pose some commercialization issues, the scientists believe that this new technique can change diesel fuels forever.

"We are proud of the work being done by Exeter in using advanced biotechnologies to create the specific hydrocarbon molecules that we know will continue to be in high demand in the future. While the technology still faces several hurdles to commercialization, by exploring this new method of creating biofuel, along with other intelligent technologies, we hope they could help us to meet the challenges of limiting the rise in carbon dioxide emissions while responding to the growing global requirement for transport fuel," said Rob Lee from Shell Projects and Technology.

According to the researchers, the diesel produced by E. coli would not need to be mixed with petroleum products, which is often required when scientists derive biodiesels from plant oils. The scientists added that the diesel produced by bacteria could already be used in current supplies, which include engines, pipelines and tankers.

"Producing a commercial biofuel that can be used without needing to modify vehicles has been the goal of this project from the outset. Replacing conventional diesel with a carbon neutral biofuel in commercial volumes would be a tremendous step towards meeting our target of an 80% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. Global demand for energy is rising and a fuel that is independent of both global oil price fluctuations and political instability is an increasingly attractive prospect," professor John Love of Biosciences from the university stated.

The scientists were able to achieve this study by observing how E. coli bacteria produce sugars into fat as a part of the bacteria's natural process of developing cell membrane. It was through this process that the scientists were able to create synthetic fuel oil molecules. Although the scientists did successfully manufacture diesel, the production is still limited to a small laboratory setting. More research will need to be done before using these strains of bacteria to create diesel.