New low-cost method to turn plant waste into biofuels

Washington: Scientists have developed a novel method that could make it much cheaper to produce biofuels such as ethanol from plant waste, and help reduce the dependence on fossil fuels. The approach features an ammonia-salt based solvent that rapidly turns plant fibres into sugars needed to make ethanol.

It works well at close to room temperature, unlike conventional processes, according to the study published in the journal Green Chemistry.