Diesel tree being studied at UNC

GREELEY - The diesel tree - yes, a real tree - may soon help wean the U.S. off of foreign oil, according to a professor at the University of Northern Colorado.

Chhandak Basu, assistant professor in UNC's School of Biological Sciences, is studying what's officially called the copaiba tree.

Found primarily in South America, the copaiba is commonly referred to as the diesel tree because it produces what's called oleoresin, which can easily be converted into biofuel.

That fuel can then power a number of things including cars and trucks.

Growing the diesel tree in mass quantities is near impossible outside the tropics.

That's where Basu's research comes in. He's currently trying to locate the genes in the copaiba that create the oleoresin.

"We are going to clone those genes from the diesel tree and start genetically modifying algae and other non-food plants," Basu said.

That may result in native Colorado plants producing diesel-like fuel.

In the effort to steer clear of the controversy hovering over ethanol and corn prices, Basu will only work with plants that aren't used for food.

"(Non-food plants) should not generate any controversy because they don't have any other economic importance other than growing. . .without fertilizer or water," he said.

If Basu is successful, he has no plans of turning the diesel tree into a money tree.

"I would distribute this plant. . .absolutely free to academic and non-profit organizations," he said.

Earlier this month, Basu's research got a shot in the arm.

The Colorado Office of Economic Development & International Trade, along with the University of Northern Colorado, gave Basu a $100,000 grant.