Cars to run on biofuels harvested from whisky leftovers?

They say not to drink and drive, and obviously, alcohol is the offending chemical here, but nobody mentioned anything about your car clocking up additional mileage through shots of whisky infused into its fuel tank. We are referring to by-products of whisky being turned into biofuel, with a deal being signed recently for a Scottish distillery to perform this ‘miracle’. Touted to be the world’s first such procedure, the Tullibardine distillery in Perthshire has collaborated with a spin-out company from Napier University in Edinburgh, where the master plan includes using bacteria to feed on the “leftovers” from the whisky making process. In turn, this produces butanol that can then be used to keep your gas guzzler running.

It must be said that over 90% of the stuff that is churned out by a whisky distillery is not drinkable whisky, but rather, those leftovers such as draff and pot ales which are far higher in sugar content could be used for other more practical items, including fertilizer, cattle feed, and now, biofuel for vehicles.

Edwin Kee
Categories: Green, Transportation
Tags: car