Researchers study how to replace petroleum with plant-derived sugar

As an energy source, fermented sugar is amazingly versatile: one form can liven up a party, another can propel a car.

It might also form the basis for making disposable diapers, antifreeze and plastic pop bottles.

By Kristi Heim

Seattle Times business reporter

Full Story: http://archives.seattletimes.nwsource.com/cgi-bin/texis.cgi/web/vortex/display?slug=bioprocessing02&date=20070402&query=pacific+northwest+national+laboratory

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Plastics from Sugar

New catalysts convert glucose into a valuable chemical feedstock.

By Prachi Patel-Predd

Sugar synthesis: Researchers at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory have taken an important step toward the goal of plant-derived sugars to replace the petroleum-based compounds that are currently used to make polyester and other plastics, industrial chemicals, and fuels. They have developed an easy, inexpensive catalytic process to directly convert glucose into a versatile chemical feedstock.

Researchers at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) have come up with an easy, inexpensive method to directly convert glucose into a chemical that can be used to make polyester and other plastics, industrial chemicals, and even fuels.

http://www.technologyreview.com/Nanotech/18943/