New Source for BioFuels: bacteria
#1
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Dec 2005
Posts: 3,481
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
New Source for BioFuels: bacteria
I'm not sure what to think about this, but if we're forced to go the idiotic biofuel route that GW's been pushing, at least this could help save some people from food shortages, keep food prices from rising and save some forests...
https://www.utexas.edu/news/2008/04/23/biofuel_microbe/
Also, why is no one talking about the fact that diesel (even biodiesel) particulate matter is smaller than that of regular gas? This makes them more harmful as you cannot expirate the particulate matter. While there's about 20% less than normal diesel, it's still dangerous.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Particulate#Health_effects
https://www.utexas.edu/news/2008/04/23/biofuel_microbe/
Also, why is no one talking about the fact that diesel (even biodiesel) particulate matter is smaller than that of regular gas? This makes them more harmful as you cannot expirate the particulate matter. While there's about 20% less than normal diesel, it's still dangerous.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Particulate#Health_effects
The effects of inhaling particulate matter has been widely studied in humans and animals and include asthma, lung cancer, cardiovascular issues, and premature death. The size of the particle is a main determinant of where in the respiratory tract the particle will come to rest when inhaled....Similarly, particles smaller than 2.5 micrometres , PM2.5, tend to penetrate into the gas-exchange regions of the lung, and very small particles (<= 100 nanometers) (donrhummy: that would be diesel particles) may pass through the lungs to affect other organs. In particular, a study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association indicates that PM2.5 leads to high plaque deposits in arteries, causing vascular inflammation and atherosclerosis — a hardening of the arteries that reduces elasticity, which can lead to heart attacks and other cardiovascular problems [3]. Researchers suggest that even short-term exposure at elevated concentrations could significantly contribute to heart disease.
The smallest particles, less than 100 nanometers (nanoparticles), may be even more damaging to the cardiovascular system.[4] There is evidence that particles smaller than 100 nanometres can pass through cell membranes and migrate into other organs, including the brain. It has been suggested that particulate matter can cause similar brain damage as that found in Alzheimer patients. Particles emitted from modern diesel engines (commonly referred to as Diesel Particulate Matter, or DPM) are typically in the size range of 100 nanometres (0.1 micrometres). In addition, these soot particles also carry carcinogenic components like benzopyrenes adsorbed on their surface. It is becoming increasingly clear that the legislative limits for engines, which are in terms of emitted mass, are not a proper measure of the health hazard. One particle of 10 µm diameter has approximately the same mass as 1 million particles of 100 nm diameter, but it is clearly much less hazardous, as it probably never enters the human body - and if it does, it is quickly removed. Proposals for new regulations exist in some countries, with suggestions to limit the particle surface area or the particle number.
The large number of deaths and other health problems associated with particulate pollution was first demonstrated in the early 1970s [5] and has been reproduced many times since. PM pollution is estimated to cause 22,000-52,000 deaths per year in the United States (from 2000) [6] and 200,000 deaths per year in Europe.
The smallest particles, less than 100 nanometers (nanoparticles), may be even more damaging to the cardiovascular system.[4] There is evidence that particles smaller than 100 nanometres can pass through cell membranes and migrate into other organs, including the brain. It has been suggested that particulate matter can cause similar brain damage as that found in Alzheimer patients. Particles emitted from modern diesel engines (commonly referred to as Diesel Particulate Matter, or DPM) are typically in the size range of 100 nanometres (0.1 micrometres). In addition, these soot particles also carry carcinogenic components like benzopyrenes adsorbed on their surface. It is becoming increasingly clear that the legislative limits for engines, which are in terms of emitted mass, are not a proper measure of the health hazard. One particle of 10 µm diameter has approximately the same mass as 1 million particles of 100 nm diameter, but it is clearly much less hazardous, as it probably never enters the human body - and if it does, it is quickly removed. Proposals for new regulations exist in some countries, with suggestions to limit the particle surface area or the particle number.
The large number of deaths and other health problems associated with particulate pollution was first demonstrated in the early 1970s [5] and has been reproduced many times since. PM pollution is estimated to cause 22,000-52,000 deaths per year in the United States (from 2000) [6] and 200,000 deaths per year in Europe.
#2
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2006
Posts: 294
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
You should watch this video as well. It is Craig Venter talking at TED about creating synthetic life and eventually designing bacteria to create oil/energy equivalents.
https://www.ted.com/index.php/talks/view/id/227
It is cool to see some good people working on alternatives.
https://www.ted.com/index.php/talks/view/id/227
It is cool to see some good people working on alternatives.
#3
Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Palm Beach
Posts: 104
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Nobody's being "forced" to go the biofuel route.
Food riots in the third world and rising food costs at home are going to exact HUGE amounts of political pressure to abandon the ethanol initiative this year.
Most people use their cars to commute, with maybe one or two extended trips per year. Electrically driven cars with gasoline-powered generators are the future, not this hydrogen economy/biofuel/fuelcell bull****.
Food riots in the third world and rising food costs at home are going to exact HUGE amounts of political pressure to abandon the ethanol initiative this year.
Most people use their cars to commute, with maybe one or two extended trips per year. Electrically driven cars with gasoline-powered generators are the future, not this hydrogen economy/biofuel/fuelcell bull****.
#5
Senior Member
I've got to chuckle sometimes. I posted here way back in 2004 that people would eventually have to make a choice about putting food in their kids' mouths or feeding their motor vehicles... and the history of the modern world provided the ready answer...
I got a dumb response... that is, no-one really took on board what I was saying because petroleum fuels were still affordable, and I don't think they believed me.
I got a dumb response... that is, no-one really took on board what I was saying because petroleum fuels were still affordable, and I don't think they believed me.