Gonzalez Gets Award For Finding Way To Turn E. Coli Into Biofuel

TheStreet.com
By American Business Journal 05/19/10 - 01:48 PM EDT

Escherichia coli, E. coli for short, is best known as the bacterium that can cause foodborne illnesses, but to researcher Ramon Gonzalez, E. coli can also be an alternative energy source.

Gonzalez, the William W. Akers Assistant Professor in the chemical and biomolecular engineering and bioengineering departments of Rice University, received the 2010 Glycerine Innovation Award for identifying a way to use a safe form of E. coli to convert glycerine into ethanol.

Glycerine is the major byproduct of biodiesel production.

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