The discussion centers on the feasibility of converting cellulose into alkanes. It highlights that while cellulose is a complex sugar chain, its structure makes direct conversion to alkanes impractical and cost-inefficient. Instead, cellulosic ethanol is identified as a more viable alternative for fuel production. One participant shares their successful experiments in converting cellulose to glucose, suggesting that alkanes could theoretically be produced by oxidizing glucose and then using the Wolff-Kishner Reduction to replace carbonyl groups with hydrogen. The method for hydrating cellulose involved mechanical milling with a catalyst, although specific details are withheld due to ongoing publication efforts.
