Aug. 11, 2008 Independence from fossil fuel exporting nations, a
reduction in the release of greenhouse gases, conservation of
dwindling resources: there are any number of reasons to stop the
use of fossil fuels. Hydrogen technology and solar energy will
very probably provide the solution to our global energy
problem—in the long term. For an initial quick remedy we may
look to bioenergy. Biomass can be used to generate alternative
carbon-based liquid fuels, allowing the continued use of current
automotive combustion engine technology and existing
infrastructure. At the same time, the chemical industry would
continue to be supplied with the carbon compounds it requires as
raw materials for plastics, textiles, etc. Mark Mascal and
Edward B. Nikitin at the University of California, Davis (USA)
have now developed an interesting new method for the direct
conversion of cellulose into furan-based biofuels. Their simple,
inexpensive process delivers furanic compounds in yields never
achieved before. Atmospheric carbo