There is a bacteria the can turn starch into butanol ; a great sub four gasoline. If you have the right setup you can reach 80% or 160 proof with out distilation. It is possable to just skim from the top and feed to the bottom so you would in theory have a continuous operation. However, I can;t remeber the name of this microbe.

 

** (lots of starch around)

 

Can any body tell me the name of this organism and where to get some?

It also makes acetone. I think acetone is part of the name.

Could this be what you're talking about?

 

http://www.springerlink.com/content/p55069530x55704n/

 

first thing to come up when i typed "bacteria starch butanol" into google.

 

this:

 

http://www.ilcorn.org/Corn_Products/Butanol/butanol.html

 

also mentions starch more specifically.