Xerox Funds Ethanol Co-Product Research At SUNY

Scientists at the SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry (ESF) are getting some help from Xerox Corporation (NYSE: XRX) as they seek to make inexpensive biodegradable plastics from byproducts of wood-based ethanol production.

Through the Xerox Foundation, the company has awarded the college a $20,000 grant, which can be renewed for two more years, to explore "Biodegradable ‘Green Polymers’ from Renewable Resources." It’s one of 11 new fundamental research projects at universities around the world that Xerox has selected to fund as part of a 20-year-old, open innovation program that promotes university and industry interaction and enables Xerox to partner with academic luminaries.

The SUNY-ESF project, under the direction of Dr. Arthur J. Stipanovic, is particularly timely. Rising gasoline prices have spurred interest in ethanol as an alternative fuel; and woody biomass, such as fast-growing willow trees, other hardwoods and switchgrass, may be preferable to using corn to make ethanol.

SUNY Office of Communications, July 11, 2007