Article

A study has revealed that using waste bread can replace fossil fuel-derived hydrogen in hydrogenation, a key chemical reaction in manufacturing. Researchers from the University of Edinburgh demonstrated that E. coli bacteria can produce hydrogen gas from sugars in wasted bread, allowing for hydrogenation at mild conditions and with low energy consumption.

This process is carbon-negative, diverting food waste from landfills while reducing greenhouse gas emissions. The study, published in Nature Chemistry, was funded by UKRI, ERC, IBioIC, and High-Value Biorenewables Network.