The study, in the journal Science, tackles a major barrier to the development of more affordable and environmentally sustainable biofuels. Rather than relying on the fermentation of simple sugars in food crops such as corn, beets or sugar cane (which is environmentally costly and threatens the food supply) researchers are looking for better ways to convert the leaves and stems of grasses or woody plants to liquid fuel. These “second-generation” biofuels ideally will be “carbon neutral,” absorbing as much carbon dioxide from the atmosphere as is emitted in their processing and use.
Read more on ScienceDaily.