Indonesian student identifies high acidity bacteria to break down wheat straw into ethanol

In Indonesia, a biology student at the University of Surabaya has determined that bacteria found in the Mount Ijens crater can be used to produce ethanol from wheat straw thanks to its high acidity level of zero. Though more research needs to be done on bacteria and other microorganisms that survive in the highly acidic environment found in the crater, the student and his advisor are excited about the potential uses due to wheat’s complex structure that requires acidic solutions in order to break it down.