Plastic that grows on trees

One-step process derives **raw material** for **fuels** and **plastic** from plants rather than crude oil. Some researchers hope to turn **plants** into a renewable, nonpolluting replacement for **crude oil**. To achieve this, scientists have to learn how to convert plant **biomass** into a building block for plastics and fuels cheaply and efficiently. In new research, chemists have successfully converted **cellulose** - the most common plant carbohydrate - directly into the building block called HMF in one step. "DOE Pacific Northwest National Laboratory":[ http://www.pnl.gov/news/release.asp?id=371]

---