Microbial Production of Short Chain Alkanes: A Future Biofuel

Abstract

For many decades we have been depending on fossil resources to produce liquid fuels such as gasoline, diesel, kerosene, etc. It is estimated that oil reserves mined at current rates will last only about 40 years before running dry. Increasing concerns about the global petroleum supply, environmental issues including global warming and climate change have focused attention on the need to develop alternative methods to produce fuels.