New technology to produce biofuel

A new technique that produces gasoline-like fuels from farm and forestry waste could open up new markets for plant-based fuels beyond existing diesel substitutes, scientists say. The process developed by chemists at the University of California, Davis makes gasoline-like fuels from cellulosic materials such as farm and forestry waste using a new process.

Traditional diesel fuel is made up of long, straight chains of carbon atoms, while the molecules that make up gasoline are shorter and branched. That means gasoline and diesel evaporate at different temperatures and pressures, reflected in the different design of diesel and gasoline engines. Biodiesel, refined from plant-based oils, is already commercially available to run modified diesel engines.

A plant-based gasoline replacement would open up a much bigger market for renewable fuels.