The researchers identified natural cyclopropane-producing bacteria in a family called Streptomyces, then copied the associated gene clusters into other bacteria that are more lab-friendly. The end result was POP-FAME molecules that the team called fuelimycins, which only require one further chemical processing step to turn them into a ready-to-burn fuel.
Scientists at Sandia National Labs then conducted computer simulations of the resulting fuels to estimate their properties compared to conventional fuels. This analysis suggested that the new fuels would be safe and stable at room temperature, and would have an energy density of over 50 megajoules per liter (MJ/L). That’s a huge increase over existing fuels – gasoline’s energy density is around 32 MJ/L, while common jet and rocket fuels top out around 35 MJ/L.
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“This biosynthetic pathway provides a clean route to highly energy-dense fuels that, prior to this work, could only be produced from petroleum using a highly toxic synthesis process,” said Jay Keasling, project leader. “As these fuels would be produced from bacteria fed with plant matter – which is made from carbon dioxide pulled from the atmosphere – burning them in engines will significantly reduce the amount of added greenhouse gas relative to any fuel generated from petroleum.”
I find this exciting because every biofuel I've ever previously read about struggles to reach the energy density of conventional hydrocarbon fuels. The high ring strain embodied in this family of molecules takes it beyond conventional hydrocarbon fuels. Even if the scale-up challenges can be overcome it's unlikely to take over high-volume fuel applications, but there are special roles where extremely energy dense fuels could justify a higher price.
For example, some cruise missiles use an expensive specialty fuel called JP-10 [1] because it offers about 11% more energy density than ordinary JP-8, which directly translates into better range. JP-10 costs over $25 per gallon at present to get that 11% premium. A fuel that offers a ~40% energy density premium over JP-8 could justify significantly higher cost premiums than JP-10.
Scientists at Sandia National Labs then conducted computer simulations of the resulting fuels to estimate their properties compared to conventional fuels. This analysis suggested that the new fuels would be safe and stable at room temperature, and would have an energy density of over 50 megajoules per liter (MJ/L). That’s a huge increase over existing fuels – gasoline’s energy density is around 32 MJ/L, while common jet and rocket fuels top out around 35 MJ/L.
...
“This biosynthetic pathway provides a clean route to highly energy-dense fuels that, prior to this work, could only be produced from petroleum using a highly toxic synthesis process,” said Jay Keasling, project leader. “As these fuels would be produced from bacteria fed with plant matter – which is made from carbon dioxide pulled from the atmosphere – burning them in engines will significantly reduce the amount of added greenhouse gas relative to any fuel generated from petroleum.”
I find this exciting because every biofuel I've ever previously read about struggles to reach the energy density of conventional hydrocarbon fuels. The high ring strain embodied in this family of molecules takes it beyond conventional hydrocarbon fuels. Even if the scale-up challenges can be overcome it's unlikely to take over high-volume fuel applications, but there are special roles where extremely energy dense fuels could justify a higher price.
For example, some cruise missiles use an expensive specialty fuel called JP-10 [1] because it offers about 11% more energy density than ordinary JP-8, which directly translates into better range. JP-10 costs over $25 per gallon at present to get that 11% premium. A fuel that offers a ~40% energy density premium over JP-8 could justify significantly higher cost premiums than JP-10.
[1] https://www.lanl.gov/discover/publications/national-security...