New Solvents May Lead to Better Biofuels

Online NewsHour
Posted: May 30, 2008, 4:35 PM ET

Molten salts used as solvents may provide a stepping stone toward cheaper, more environmentally friendly biofuels, researchers said this month.

One of the biggest challenges biofuel producers face is breaking down energy-containing plant material into simple sugars that can be fermented into fuel. It's particularly difficult to break down the tough cellulose in material like wood chips and switchgrass, which could otherwise produce more energy-efficient ethanol than corn.

A majority of ethanol producers use strong chemicals or heat to dissolve the plant material. But molten salts -- also called ionic liquids -- may provide a better alternative, researchers said at an Australian symposium on ionic liquids. The liquids are made up of highly charged atoms called ions, and the forces exerted by those ions make the liquid an ideal solvent.

"Ionic liquids are the enabling technology to 'crack' biomass efficiently and economically," said Robin Rogers, a chemistry professor at the University of Alabama. "This is really the key to any biomass product."

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