Microbial production of fatty-acid-based biofuels

Abstract

A variety of petroleum-based liquid fuels are now being used in vast quantities in the transportation sector including various grades of gasolines, diesels, and jet fuels. The production of some biofuels, such as the first generation bioethanol and biodiesel, or even more advanced biofuels such as biobutanol, can at least partially replace some of this demand. However, these alternative fuels are perhaps best used as blends with present day fossil fuels since they often lack compatibility with existing infrastructure, or possess less than desirable storage and combustion properties. Even presently produced biodiesel, a fuel which under some circumstances can largely replace its petroleum-based counterpart, is problematic since its production depends upon either limited feedstocks, used vegetable, and animal oils, or the questionable use of land resources, either agricultural land that can be better used for food production or the clearing of tropical forests to make way for oil palm plantations. Thus, there is a need to find biofuels that can be made in sustainable ways that do not threaten food supply, and that more closely mimic the chemical composition and properties of presently used petroleum-based liquid fuels.