---
title: "Researchers Turn Sawdust Into Gasoline"
description: "Researchers at KU Leuven's Centre for Surface Chemistry and Catalysis have successfully converted sawdust into building blocks for gasoline. Using a new chemical process, they were able to convert the cellulose in sawdust into hydrocarbon chains"
date: "2014-11-25"
modified: "2015-08-13"
authors:
  - name: "StefanCretu"
    link: "https://futurism.com/authors/stefancretu"
url: "https://futurism.com/researchers-turn-sawdust-gasoline"
categories:
  - "Energy"
  - "Science & Energy"
tags:
  - "energy"
---

# Researchers Turn Sawdust Into Gasoline

![](<https://futurism.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/georgehubersmall.jpg>)

- It takes half a day to convert the cellulose in the wood shavings into saturated hydrocarbon chains, or alkanes
- The method allows scientists to make 'petrochemical' products using biomass
- The possible applications go beyond gasoline: "The green hydrocarbon can also be used in the production of ethylene, propylene and benzene which are the the building blocks for plastic, rubber, insulation foam, nylon, coatings and so forth