Eucalyptus bears catalyst and biofuel

Many expect biomass will play a key role in sustaining society’s future energy demands. The most abundant non-food biomass is lignocellulose, composed of cellulose, hemicellulose and lignin. To convert the biomass to energy, it is hydrolysed to monomeric sugars, which can be converted into other valuable compounds and used as fuel.

But leftovers from the catalytic conversion of biomass into biofuels and biochemicals need not go to waste. So say Japanese researchers who have devised a method using eucalyptus trees that regenerates residue from the process into fresh catalyst.

This article provides a link to coverage by Chemistry World.