Researchers seek to replace petroleum with 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.
In a drive for renewable, cost-effective technology, Northwest researchers are taking green chemistry into the future by studying how to replace petroleum in hundreds of everyday products with plant-derived sugar.
Washington State University and Pacific Northwest National Laboratory in Richland, which is part of the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), are collaborating on some of the research, hoping to find new energy solutions by tapping into local resources such as forestry and agriculture.
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