ARS Scientists Investigate New Fuel Sources

By Jan Suszkiw, Delta Farm Press

Agricultural Research Service scientists are eyeing lesquerella (a.k.a. Fendler's bladderpod and Yellow Top) as a home-grown source of butanol.

Butanol is a cleaner-burning alternative to gasoline that was produced worldwide until after World War II, when making this fuel from petroleum sources proved more efficient than fermenting it from corn and molasses.