Researchers from the Iowa State University (ISU), in the United States, are developing a themochemical catalytic process which can produce ethanol from plant biomass. The thermochemical route is an alternative to the biochemical route (i.e., via fermentation) for ethanol production. The research, which is funded by a grant from the U.S. Departments of Agriculture and Energy, is headed by Victor Lin, ISU professor of chemistry. In their process, the plant biomass (like corn stalks or grasses) is heated at 900 ^oF in the absence of oxygen (“fast pyrolysis) to produce a “bio-oil”. The”bio-oil” is then heated in a gasifier at 1100 ^oF to 1500 ^oF to produce “synthesis gas” ( a mixture containing carbon monoxide, hydrogen, carbon dioxide, and short chain hydrocarbon chains). Finally, the hydrogen and carbon monoxide in the synthesis gas are combined in a reactor, containing a metal catalyst embedded in solid nanosphere particles. The technology is said to solve some problems related to selectivity and control of the reaction..