Biofuels in Puerto Rico MWV30
- 00:06:51
- TeacherTube Science
Biofuels in Puerto Rico MWV30
Puerto Rico is widely known as the quotLa Isla del Encantoquot which translated means quotThe Island of Enchantment.quot And while its beaches tropical rain forest and biolumescent bays are wonders of nature the island is not without its problems. From energy needs to economics Puerto Rico shares many issues facing the rest of the world. In this MicrobeWorld Video episode we talk with Nadathur S. Govind Ph.D. Professor Marine Sciences Department at the University of Puerto Rico Mayaguez and William Rosado Marine Sciences Department at the University of Puerto Rico Mayaguez about the sustainable biofuel program they are launching in southwestern Puerto Rico. Govind believes he can rebuild the local economy by harnessing bacterial enzymes extracted from the guts of termites and shipworms mollusks found in the mangroves off the coast to break down the lignocellulose in sugarcane and hibiscus. The idea is that if he can bring agricultural production back to his community he can use the crop waste to produce ethanol to supplement Puerto Ricos demand for fuel. And since the byproduct of ethanol is carbon dioxide he also plans to use algae to capture the gas and produce biodiesel. The waste that he has left over can then be returned to the soil as fertilizer or given to livestock as feed completing the cycle. For more information about Govinds program please read the article quotCombining Agriculture with Microbial Genomics to Make Fuelsquot found in the American Society for Microbiologys Microbe magazine.
TeacherTube Science | August 6, 2009
