Isobutanol does indeed have a higher energy density than ethanol, but it is also less volatile. Not sure if it can be used as is.
One factual untruth in the article:
Quote:
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The researchers can produce 1.88 grams of isobutanol per liter of fluid, the highest concentration recorded to date for transforming plant material into biofuel.
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Yeast can produce up to 120 grams of ethanol per liter (15% volume).
Sunflower seeds, linseed etc. contain almost pure biodiesel.
I guess the original quote had more premisses, like "using gentech on previously unproductive organisms".
Imagine the cost of distilling purish isobutanol from a less than 0.2 % mixture.
It will need a lot of time and effort to become practical.
Nevertheless, this is a promising development.
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