(MADISON) Scientists have taken another step toward developing cost-effective ways to turn plants and other biomass sources into alternatives to fossil fuels.
One challenge has been to remove most of the oxygen atoms to form molecules that will burn. UW Madison chemical engineering professor James Dumesic says in the laboratory, he and some UW colleagues have found a way to make that happen, by passing sugars over catalysts â??consisting of nano-particules of precious metalâ?, in a process that helps remove oxygen atoms from sugar molecules. (Tenth item.)