British and Finnish scientists have reportedly managed to create renewable biofuel from E.Coli bacteria.

Using a strain of bacteria found widely in human intestines, the scientists managed to generate renewable propane. They said their 'proof of concept' findings now need further work, but their method could be a step towards commercial production.   

"Although we have only produced tiny amounts so far, the fuel we have produced is ready to be used in an engine straight away," said Patrik Jones of Imperial College London.

"This research is at a very early stage [but] our proof of concept study provides a method for renewable production of a fuel that previously was only accessible from fossil reserves," Jones continued. "This opens up possibilities for future sustainable production of renewable fuels that at first could complement, and thereafter replace fossil fuels like diesel, petrol, natural gas and jet fuel."

The researchers said propane is an appealing source of fuel because it has an existing global market; it is already produced as a by-product during natural gas processing and petroleum refining, but both of these fuels are finite resources (though they are implicated in creation of polluting emissions, propane is thought to be 'cleaner' because it has a lower carbon content).

In their experiment, the team used E.coli, to interrupt a biological process that turns fatty acids into cell membranes, meaning the bacteria created fuel instead of cell membranes.

The scientists said they now need to refine their process, to increase production and make it marketable. The volume of fuel produced is currently around one thousand times too small to commercialise the method. The researchers said their end goal is to create photosynthetic bacteria, which would be able to create fuel from solar energy.