Something to Chew on: Researchers Look Inside Cow Stomachs for a Leg up on Next-Gen Biofuels
Thursday, January 27, 2011 - 15:00
in Physics & Chemistry
You may have heard the proclamation before: The next generation of biofuels will be derived from cellulosic plant material. And, in theory, this makes sense. Whereas ethanol can be produced via the fermentation of simple sugars in food crops such as corn or sugarcane, it would be more economical to make fuel from nonfood sources that are cheaper and more abundant--such as switchgrass, Miscanthus or wood chips. The problem? Today's methods for breaking down cellulose, the fibrous complex sugar that is the main structural component in green plants, are too expensive. [More]