Sweet-toothed bacteria confect hydrogen

Research funded by the

(EPSRC) has shown bacteria that can metabolise confectionery could be a valuable source of clean hydrogen energy in the future.

Bioscientists at the University of Birmingham have demonstrated in a feasibility study that these bacteria give off hydrogen gas as they consume high-sugar waste produced by the confectionery industry.

The hydrogen has been used to generate clean electricity via a fuel cell and has the potential to be used in hydrogen-fuelled road vehicles.

The successful laboratory demonstration produced hydrogen using confectionery waste as a feedstock. Birmingham-based international confectionery and beverage company Cadbury Schweppes, a partner in the initiative, supplied the waste. An economic assessment undertaken by another partner, C-Tech Innovation, showed that it should be practical to repeat the process on a larger scale.

As well as energy and environmental benefits, the technique could provide the confectionery industry, and potentially other foodstuff manufacturers, with a useful outlet for waste generated by their manufacturing processes. Much of this waste is currently disposed of in landfill sites.