Japan 7 Days S2012E45 - Decontamination by Bioethanol

Discarded material such as weeds and paper scraps may have a role to play in decontaminating radiation-contaminated areas of Japan. An experiment is being conducted in the village of Iitate to see whether bioethanol, produced from those materials, can be effective. Working with Gifu University, a company by the name of "Contig-i" has succeeded in producing bioethanol from disused articles at half the usual cost. They developed an enzyme that can turn out several times the conventional quantity of ethanol, making large-scale plants unnecessary. Developing countries are looking to the technology as a source of raw material for fuel cells. Other news: - North Korea launches missile. - Active fault suspected at Tsuruga nuclear power plant. - Shinya Yamanaka receives Nobel Prize at ceremony.