Panda droppings can be used in biofuel production

Scientists at the University of Mississippi claim that biofuels can be made from microbes found in the panda droppings instead of corn. They found that these microbes break woody materials, that can become an alternative to the traditional production of biofuels.

The search of Ashli Brown, biochemistry, University, points out that several species of microbes found in the droppings of the pandas can be reproduced and used in the creation of biofuels, as it can break the raw vegetable materials used in the process.

Brown believes, to replicate these microbes, the US could contribute to the development of alternative fuels that do not interfere with food production and still allow a big money saver.

"One of the more expensive processes in the production of biofuels is the pre-treatment, where sugar polymers are chemically treated so that it can be used to make ethanol or fuel," said Brown. "If we can insert a Microbe that does this naturally and efficiently, the production costs of alternative fuels would be tremendously reduced."

The researcher explains that microbes in question are similar to digestive bacteria found in the intestines of termites, the help from and digest the wood. "However, our studies suggest that the species of bacteria of the intestine of the pandas can be more efficient than plant material from the species of bacteria of termites."

The Inhabitat progresses that the discovery could have a huge impact in Mississippi, a State with abundant forest resources.

Obviously there are some problems in the production of biofuels be based around a species facing extinction. Therefore, the study's focus also on red pandas that also feed on bamboo and exist in greater numbers.

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