Bacteria Eat Electricity and Converts Carbon Dioxide into Biofuel

A group of researchers from the University of Southern Denmark are working on developing bacteria that can eat electricity from renewable energy sources and use it to convert CO₂ into biofuel. The scientists intend to use genetic manipulations to convert the bacteria into miniature factories which can make any kind of organic product.

The bacteria use hydrogen as a source of energy. When the bacteria take hydrogen apart, they are left with protons and electrons, which is not that different from a liquid with an electric current. These unique organisms are therefore able to live off electricity.

"So the idea is to use these unique bacteria to convert CO₂ and surplus electricity into a variety of organic products. It's a question of converting waste products into useful things in order to spare the Earth's resources," says Amelia-Elena Rotaru from the Nordic Center for Earth Evolution at the University of Southern Denmark.