Bioethanol potential from tobacco leaves discovered

Research from the Public University of Navarre in Europe has reportedly shown that genetically modified tobacco plants are viable as raw material for producing biofuels.

Ruth Sanz-Barrio, an agricultural engineer of the NUP/UPNA-Public University of Navarre and a researcher at the Institute of Biotechnology, has demonstrated the viability of using specific tobacco proteins (known as thioredoxins) as biotechnological tools in plants

Specifically, she has managed to increase the amount of starch produced in the tobacco leaves by 700% and fermentable sugars by 500%.

‘We believe these genetically modified plants could be a good alternative for producing biofuels, says Sanz-Barrio. ‘With these sugars, according to the theoretical calculation provided by the National Centre for Renewable Energies, one could obtain up to 40 litres of bioethanol per tonne of fresh leaves.’