The process employed a technology developed primarily for producing electricity from hydrogen to arrive at the commercially viable renewable liquid fuels technology.
The researchers demonstrated that a proton-exchange-membrane fuel cell can convert the model biomass compound acetone into isopropanol that can be used as gasoline additive.
Commenting on the development UW-Madison professor of chemical and biological engineering George Huber remarked that the process essentially helps renewable liquid fuel to fit into the existing infrastructure.
"And, we’re storing the electrical energy as chemical energy," said Huber.
The research team received support from the University of Massachusetts Commercial Venture and the Intellectual Property Technology Development Fund.
