Gribble: Crustacean Biofuel In Your Gas Tank
The Gribble, a small crustacean responsible for nothing more than eating piers below the water table all over the world, has found a new job in the biofuel industry.
The trusty Gribble donned it’s little hard hat and went to work. Their first task will be trying to eat some willow and straw and once the little fellow excretes his waste, he produces almost pure biofuel. The problem scientists are having is breaking down the waste cells and releasing the polymers that are required to produce biofuels.
The Gribble has an intestinal tract in which certain enzymes will break down wood and release the polymers, making it easier to extract the biofuels. So straw and other non food supply threatened plants, should be easy for the little critter to eat. Willow and straw were picked because they are so easy to grow and nobody but the Gribble will eat them.
Great Britain has given 27,000,000 pounds to scientists, to come up with a plan, to make second generation biofuels a reality within 10 years and the Gribble is only a part of the testing that will be performed. We will keep our eyes peeled and report when more information becomes available.
View Gribbles at home:
About the Author: guyp422 is a contributing author for Green Earth Friend. He is also the site admin for the Green Earth Friend Forum. He researches and writes on environmental issues including renewable energy, sustainable living and the go green movement.
