Scientists transform whisky wastewater

Scientists have developed a way to transform whisky wastewater into a biofuel.

The professionals at Edinburgh Napier University have spent two years developing the research funded by a £260,000 grant from Scottish Enterprises' Proof of Concept programme.

They managed to turn by-products of whisky into biobutanol - a biofuel which can provide power for cars.

Director of the biofuel research centre Professor Martin Tangney said: "The EU has declared that biofuels should account for ten per cent of total fuel sales by 2020. We're committed to finding new, innovative renewable energy sources."

He added that by using whisky wastewater, there is no need to grow crops specifically designed to generate the fuel.

Earlier this summer, Mr Tangney spoke at the Scottish Society for Crop Research Annual General Meeting.

He told fellow scientists about alternative means of producing biofuel to reach European green fuel targets including the European Biofuel Directive 2003 and the UK Road Transport Fuel Obligation 2008.

Posted by Lauren Steadman