Researchers at the University of Minnesota described a new process which can quickly extract hydrogen and carbon monoxide (synthesis gas) from vegetable oil and plant wastes. The process, called “reactive flash volatilization”, may make the production of synthetic diesel fuel and fertilizers more efficient in the future.

In their paper published by the journal Science, Lanny Schmidt and colleagues wrote that energy was generated by spraying soybean oil on a catalyst-coated ceramic foam at a temperature of 800 oC, and with a little amount of oxygen. This resulted in the production of hydrogen and carbon dioxide without any carbon residue. The researchers proposed that the new process may lead to better utilization of plant and animal waste products for energy production, which may in turn help the United States reduce the importation of fossil fuels..