Researchers Develop Process to Produce Biofuel Faster

Researchers from the University of British Columbia's Okanagan Campus have recently developed a new process that will be a key to cheaper biofuels. The traditional process of producing methane from fermentation can take weeks to months. However, the new pretreatment process cuts the production time nearly in half.

The new process pretreats the organic material with carbon dioxide at high temperatures and pressures in water before fermentation. Using materials commonly found in agricultural or forestry waste, the team compared the traditional processes with their new technique and found that their new process could produce methane significantly faster. The new pretreatment also uses equipment and materials that are widely available.

Furthermore, the new technique may also make methane production safer since it does not require the use or generation of toxic chemicals unlike the traditional method. However, tests are still needed to move it to an industrial scale.