Bacteria in Panda poop can efficiently break down plant material for producing biofuels. The discovery will enable utilization of wood chips, crop wastes and grass, and reduce dependency on imported oil and food crops.
Panda poop provides a cleaner, less expensive and faster method of manufacturing biofuels. Scientists reported this novel discovery at the American Chemical Society’s 242nd National Meeting & Exposition.
Panda poop contains bacteria that could help produce cheaper, more abundant biofuels. Credit: iStock
Optimization of breaking down raw plant materials is a major hurdle faced in the manufacture of biofuels. The bacteria in the digestive systems of giant pandas are capable of breaking down lignocellulose, a tough plant material in wood chips, corn stalks and switch grass. An adult panda consumes between 20-40 lbs of bamboo every day. Food crops including sugar, soybeans and corn are currently used for producing biofuels.
Lignocellulosic biomass can be used for production of biofuels with the aid of cellulolytic anaerobic organisms found in the giant panda’s fecal material. Scientists are now analyzing the specific microbes involved in the gastrointestinal system of the panda. They are trying to isolate the important digestive enzymes that are involved in the process. The researchers have found that the gut bacteria of the panda can convert 95% of biomass into simple sugars. Enzymes in the panda bacteria are powerful and they can avoid the usage of high pressures, harsh acids and high heat that are used for the production of biofuels.
For further development, scientists can put the genes involved in the production of the digestive enzymes into yeasts and then the yeasts can be used to produce enzymes on a commercial scale. The study reinforces the significance of biodiversity and the necessity of protecting and preserving endangered animals, such as pandas, of which only 2,700 remain.