Direct Catalytic Conversion of Cellulosic Materials to Ethanol

Catalytic chemical (not biological) reactions conducted during acid digestion of most cellulosic materials, comprising newspaper, wood sawdust, corn cobs, switchgrass and bagasse, are taught for direct conversion to ethanol with conversion efficiencies of at least 90 percent in less than 5 minutes. The cellulose material is thoroughly wet in a salt saturated sulfuric acid medium in the presence of transition metal salt catalysts possessing a degree of symmetry to form ethanol that can be removed by distillation affording a continuous process.