By Ken Macdonald
A deal in Scottland has been signed, in order to try to turn whiskey left overs into biofuel for cars.
Over 90% that comes out of a general whisky distillery is actually not whiskey, it is left overs, for example draft and pot-ales. A spin out company from Napier University in Edinburgh is planning on feeding certain bacteria the left overs from the process of making whiskey. Butanol will be produced out of this procedure, which can be used as bio fuel for cars. The Napier Universitys Biofuel Research Centre has already proven that if a special bacteria is fed with these leftovers, it will for sure produce butanol.The leftovers have been reused before, but things like fertiliser and cattle feed were made out of them.
Professor Martin Tangney, the founder of Celtic Renewables, has signed a deal with the whiskey producer Tullibardine. He says, that their partnership is a very big and important step in the development of our environment, because it combines two of the most significant scottish characteristics: whisky and renewables. Their project shows that resources can be used very easily to help create a healthy environment.
Douglas Ross, the managing director of the whiskey company Tullibardine said : "It takes a cost to us and turns it into something that has social as well as commercial value." Which better way could there be?
I think this is an excellent way to help the environment, but also use resources. The left overs can be reproduced as something that could actually change a big problem in the world right now. Car fuel prices are going up and up, because the resources are getting smaller, but by using this procedure, another resource would be created which maybe could have a huge impact on the environment.. and also our purse.
What an interesting article! Its great when people try hard and think of new ways to reuse, recycle and reduce. I didn't quite understand how 90% of whiskey isn't actually whiskey? Also, can you tell me what pot-ales are?
ReplyDelete