Scientists claim to have developed a new reaction that uses platinum in turning sawdust into biofuels.

They found a combination of a platinum-carbon catalyst and organic additives produced high yields of monomers and dimers.

It could be possible to produce monomers and dimers in yields of 44 to 56 wt % and 28 to 29 wt%.

According to reports from New Scientist Environment, wt% is the function of the solution's weight composed of either monomers or dimers.

The researchers from Peking University in Beijing were developing a lignin breakdown reaction to develop the production of alkanes and alcohols for biofuels.

It is thought that a wider range of plant material could be turned into biofuels as a result of the reaction because it converts molecules into liquid hydrocarbons.

The reaction involving the platinum-carbon catalyst produces yields that are about twice what has previously been achieved.

"For the first time, we have produced alkanes, the main component of gasoline and diesel, from lignin, and biomethanol becomes available," said Ning Yan from Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, Switzerland, who had worked on the project.

Source:
Chemical breakthrough turns sawdust into biofuel, 18/07/08
http://environment.newscientist.com/channel/earth/energy-fuels/dn14360-chemical-breakthrough-turns-sawdust-into-biofuel.html