Science breakthrough sees cheese turned into fuel - with unique link to King Charles
Science breakthrough sees cheese turned into fuel - with unique link to King Charles . A revolutionary new science breakthrough could see fuel created from dairy waste and cheese, according to experts in Scotland
A revolutionary new science breakthrough could see fuel created from dairy waste and cheese, according to experts in Scotland. The International Centre for Brewing and Distilling (ICBD) worked with Take Root Bio to turn salty whey into bioethanol. Salty whey, which is a high-volume by-product from cheese production, could be used in the creation of fuel, based on the study's findings. Scientists from Heriot-Watt University, the ICBD and Take Root Bio were supported by the Industrial Biotechnology Innovation Centre (IBioIC) to undertake the research. StoriesVideosYour SayThe group of researchers looked at how the sugars found in salty whey could be transformed through a "bio-based process". This allows the team to create value from a material that can be difficult and costly to manage, while also reusing the secondary stream as a by-product. Around 95,000 tonnes of salty whey is generated in the UK each year when producing cheddar and other popular cheeses. Dr Shiwen Zhuang, specialist in fermentation development at Heriot-Watt University, said: "This project gave us the opportunity to explore whether bio-based solutions could help unlock some of the value in salty whey while reducing the pressures associated with disposal. Scientists have discovered a way to turn cheese into bioethanol fuel|GETTY"It's exactly the kind of upcycling approach that could strengthen sustainability across the food and drink sector. "This is not the first time that whey has been used as a fuel source, with King Charles being the unlikely owner of an Aston Martin that "runs on cheese and wine". His Majesty's 1969 Aston Martin DB6 was gifted to him by his mother, the late Queen Elizabeth, for his 21st birthday. The King had the Aston Martin converted to run on a sustainable mix of by-products from wine and cheese. LATEST DEVELOPMENTSDiesel drivers issued dire warning as fuel prices 'look set to carry on rising' in blow to millionsPolice seize 13 Audi, Porsche and Ferrari supercars after being caught driving dangerouslyDriving licence changes could see motorists take 'one-hour course' to drive manual carsKing Charles and his Aston Martin DB6, which runs on 'cheese and wine' |PASpeaking previously to the BBC, he explained: "My old Aston Martin, which I've had for 51 years, runs on, can you believe this; it runs on surplus English white wine and whey from the cheese processes. I did that quite a long time ago. "Green Fuels, a Gloucestershire-based company, contacted the King, informing him that they would be able to supply waste-derived bioethanol produced from wine and cheese. Despite the odd-sounding technology being suitable for many Britons, the company stated that the wine is not suitable for human consumption. Kirk Siderman-Wolter, founder of Take Root Bio, outlined that the company began by trying to establish how people might grow food in space. Kirk Siderman-Wolter, founder of Take Root Bio, praised the scientific breakthrough|PA/INDUSTRIAL BIOTECHNOLOGY INNOVATION CENTREHe added: "We've always been interested in what happens when you stop looking at something as waste and start asking what else it could become. "The same principles apply surprisingly well here on Earth. Salty whey is produced in huge volumes and can be difficult to deal with, so we wanted to find out whether there was a better use for it. "If we can help turn something that currently costs money to manage into something with real value, that's a positive outcome for both dairy producers and the environment. "