A variety of microorganisms were screened for their ability to utilize furfural and possible intermediates in its degradative pathway. Compounds tested included furfural, furfuryl alcohol, 2-furoic acid, tetrahydrofurfuryl alcohol, di- and tetra-hydrofurans, 1,5-pentanediol and 1,4-butanediol. The objective of the research was to determine whether microbial strains might be found that degraded furfuryl via diets. If so, then it might be possible to block the metabolic pathway at the appropriate point allowing accumulation of diol(s). A promising bacterial strain was identified that could utilize furfural, some of its derivatives and diols, which is a candidate for further studies.