Dr Shaw, however, is no longer so interested in octanol as a biofuel.

ECONOMIST: Advanced biofuels

The idea of engineering enzymes to make octanol was what first brought Codexis, a small biotechnology firm based in Redwood City, California, into the field.

ECONOMIST: Advanced biofuels

In practice, this game of topping up the carbon content to make a better fuel stops with octanol (eight carbon atoms) as anything bigger tends to freeze at temperatures that might be encountered in winter.

ECONOMIST: Advanced biofuels