New Efforts to Redeem Waste Win Attention of Paul Comet, Houston Scientist

PHILADELPHIA, PA, June 18, 2013 (Press-News.org) Researching ways to improve current methods of dealing with waste is something Paul Comet Houston scientist, has spent a long time doing. Formulating new proposals, he has a vested interest in the topic. In response to a recent article on Wired, Comet shares his insight into the new discoveries.

The article focuses on the efforts of researchers to turn indigestible cellulose into starch. By doing this, they could create food and fuel from billions of tonnes of what is otherwise agricultural waste. Currently only a fraction of the cellulose grown by plants is useful to humans. However research has found that the glucose chains that make up the cellulose are incredibly similar to those that make up starch. Starch is a large part of peoples' daily caloric intake, constituting between 20 and 40 percent in all.

With an ever increasing population, preventing starvation could become possible through altering this cellulose glucose into a more practical substance. In experiments researchers tested methods of breaking down cellulose into more basic glucose block and then recombining them to form more complex starches. Through the use of genetically-modified E. Coli bacteria, this became possible.

Using this collection of enzymes, the article notes that process worked as follows: "The first breaks cellulose down into the slightly-simpler cellobiose, which another enzyme then split into two individual glucose molecules - one on its own, the other with one phosphate molecule attached. That phosphate molecule allows the glucose to combine together into amylose, a starch powder that's edible but not digestible. It is present in many foods, is a good source of fibre, and has been shown to improve the digestive health of people who eat it regularly." The process leaves one third of the cellulose as edible starch and the other two thirds as useable biofuel.

Though Paul Comet, Houston scientist, commends this effort to turn waste into food, he has other thoughts on the matter. "I believe that the agricultural waste, if anaerobically fermented with food waste, offal, and bones, could be converted into methane gas and carbon dioxide through a biological exothermic reaction at little cost except equipment and labor," states Comet. "The resultant gas is 'carbon neutral' and does not add carbon dioxide to the atmosphere, even when burned, as the waste from which it is derived is already part of the existing carbon cycle. The methane is already being used directly for cooking purposes or to turn a gas turbine for electricity generation. The gases can also be 'dry reformed' if heated together by an independent source of energy to syngas, the 'magic gas' used in oil refineries and the chemical industry to produce plastic, pharmaceuticals, or diesel. Alternatively, the methane can be 'steam reformed' to hydrogen, another valuable feedstock, or used as a source of methanol. The methanol can be sold as liquid fuel or chemical feedstock. The fermentation residue could be used as odor-free solid and liquid fertilizers to grow more food at lower costs than converting straw into bread," concludes Paul Comet, Houston scientist.

ABOUT:

Paul Comet Houston Scientist, has his PhD in organic geochemistry. He works in the areas of geochemistry, waste management, petroleum, carbon dioxide emissions neutralization, and other organic analytical methods of controlling the carbon cycle. His experiences and background have led him to a portfolio rich with ideas for reversing climate change.