Global Bioenergies uses genetic engineering to cut down the expensive distillation step in the process. It has also developed a way of making petrol directly from sugar and other renewable sources, rather than making ethanol for addition to gasoline.
In a normal fermentation process, ethanol begins to kill off the active yeast once it reaches about 12 percent alcohol. Global Bioenergies has developed a special bacteria to produce a isobutene gas that bubbles out of solution. The proportion never reaches the toxic level in the fermentation process and the bacteria can last much longer. The gasoline is then made from the isobutene.
Audi has a history of investing in alternative fuel processes, as part of its effort to improve its global CO2 footprint.
