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A Facelift For Fossil Fuel, Amy Oprean

New Science

As scientists around the world scramble to develop a viable alternative to fossil fuels, one Wayne State researcher is working to improve the traditional oil refining process for a cleaner, more securely-obtained gasoline. Stephanie Brock, Ph.D., professor of chemistry in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, is working as a co-investigator with Mark Bussell, Ph.D., professor of chemistry at Western Washington University, to modify the process by which sulfur is removed from crude oil – a vital step in turning oil into usable fuel. The goal is to synthesize catalysts to make a refining process that’s fit to handle …