BIRMINGHAM, England, May 23, 2006 -- UPI

 

British scientists say bacteria that can munch through a confectionery might be a valuable future source of non-polluting energy.

University of Birmingham researchers have demonstrated such bacteria emit hydrogen gas while consuming high-sugar waste as produced by the confectionery industry.

The hydrogen has been used to generate clean electricity via a fuel cell and, in the future, might also be used to power hydrogen-fueled road vehicles.

Such a technology would also provide the confectionery industry, and potentially other foodstuff manufacturers, with a useful outlet for waste generated by their manufacturing processes, the scientists said. Much of such waste is currently disposed of in landfill sites.

Professor Lynne Macaskie of the University of Birmingham's School of Biosciences who led the research team said: "Hydrogen offers huge potential as a carbon-free energy carrier.

"Although only at its initial stages, we've demonstrated a hydrogen-producing, waste-reducing technology that, for example, might be scaled-up in 5-10 years' time for industrial electricity generation and waste treatment processes."

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