Purdue scientist develops new biofuel process

Evansville Courrier & Press
By The Associated Press
Posted June 5, 2012 at 8:09 a.m., updated June 5, 2012 at 8:09 a.m.

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — Purdue University says a new process for creating biofuels developed by one of the school's researchers has potential to be priced competitively with crude oil.

The H2Bioil method was created in the West Lafayette laboratory of chemical engineering professor Rakesh Agrawal.

The process exposes biomass such as switchgrass to pressurized hydrogen and heats it to about 900 degrees Fahrenheit. Catalysts then separate oxygen from carbon molecules, making the carbon rich in energy.

Read more