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Researchers at the University of Wisconsin-Madison have developed a two-step chemical method to convert biomass cellulose into biofuels. This research finding was published in the January 21 issue of the American Chemical Society journal 3. The key to this new process is the first step, namely the conversion of cellulose into 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF). Professor Ronald Raines from the Department of Biochemistry and the Department of Chemistry at this university mentioned that other research teams have already demonstrated some steps for converting biomass into HMF, starting with the use of glucose or malic acid, whereas we have shown the entire process of conversion using biomass itself. Professor Raines and his doctoral student Joseph Binder developed a unique dissolution system that uses a mixture of special solvents and additives (for which a patent has been applied) to dissolve cellulose. This dissolution system can dissolve cotton balls (pure fiber biomass), and this simple system is non-corrosive, safe, inexpensive, and odorless. The second step is to convert HMF into the promising biofuel 2,5-dimethylfuran (DMF). Using this two-step biomass-to-biofuel process, 9% of the fibers in corn straw can ultimately be converted into biofuel. Raines mentioned that although the DMF yield is not ideal, the second step has not yet been optimized. He emphasized that the energy content of DMF is comparable to that of gasoline, and it can be used in the existing infrastructure for liquid transportation fuels; it is currently being used as a gasoline additive. In addition to corn straw, Raines and Binder tested this process using red pine sawdust, and they plan to use more materials for further trials in the future. Raines mentioned that this process is quite common, and he believes that any type of biomass can be used to produce DMF or HMF. : http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2009-02/uow-tcp021009.php