Education – Advanced BioFuels USA

Apply for the Science & SciLifeLab Prize for Young Scientists DEADLINE July 15, 2019

In order to promote young scientists early in their career, SciLifeLab has engaged in a collaboration with AAAS and Science magazine to award an annual prize in the area of life science for the best PhD thesis work. An essay based on the thesis is submitted to the editorial board of Science and four winners are

May 17, 2019 Read Full Article

Minnesota Corn, American Lung Promote Ethanol at Pump — various dates — Minnesota locations

by Paula Mohr (Farm Progress) 35 fuel promotion events are scheduled across the state offering discounts on E85 and E15. — Minnesota drivers who stop at selected gas stations with E85 and E15 this spring and summer have the opportunity to fill’er up with discounted fuel and learn more about ethanol-blended products.

May 17, 2019 Read Full Article

Signing Ceremony of MoU between UNCTAD and Stockholm Environment Institute: SEI and UNCTAD to Cooperate on Trade and Environment

(UNCTAD) Stockholm Environment Institute and the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU). The agreement is an overarching mechanism to foster cooperation on trade and environment, backed up by the research and convening capacities of SEI and UNCTAD. The main purpose of collaboration

May 17, 2019 Read Full Article

Greening the Chemical Industry Requires Massive Amount of Renewables

by Michael Le Page (New Scientist) … While in theory carbon dioxide captured from the air could replace fossil fuels as a feedstock for the global chemicals industry, in practice it would likely require vastly more clean electricity than we currently have. … They calculated that capturing carbon from the air to use as

May 16, 2019 Read Full Article

Bioprivileged Molecules: The Digest’s 2019 Multi-Slide Guide to Northwestern University

by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Northwestern University has been conducting research on the identification of bioprivileged molecules using computational approaches at their Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering. Linda J. Broadbelt from Northwestern University, gave this illuminating overview of novel pathways to propionic acid, identifying putative enzymes, evaluation of candidate bioprivileged molecules using

May 16, 2019 Read Full Article

National Biodiesel Foundation Tours NYC’s Sustainable Side

by Paul Winters (Biodiesel Magazine/National Biodiesel Board) The National Biodiesel Foundation hosted a small group of congressional staffers April 26 on a tour of New York City, highlighting the theme, “Sustainable Biodiesel: Improving the Environment and Economy.” The annual tour is designed to educate interested congressional staff about New York City’s

May 15, 2019 Read Full Article

Converting CO2 to Carbon at Mild Conditions

by Paul Grad (Chemical Engineering) … (C)onverting CO2 into a solid offers an attractive alternative method for safely and permanently removing CO2 from the atmosphere. To date, CO2 has only been converted into a solid at extremely high temperatures, making it industrially unviable. The team created a liquid metal electrocatalyst that contains metallic elemental cerium nanoparticles, which facilitate

May 15, 2019 Read Full Article

Mushroom Burial Suits, Fish Gut Bioplastic, Algae Foam Bags, Power Generated from Human Sweat, Castor Oil Polyamides, and More: The Digest’s Top 10 Innovations for the Week of May15th

by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) The pace of bioeconomy invention and change continues at a frenetic pace. Here are the top innovations for the week of May 15th. In today’s Digest, mushroom burial suits, fish gut bioplastic, algae foam bags, power generated from human sweat, castor oil polyamides — these and

May 15, 2019 Read Full Article

Great Lakes Bioenergy Research Center Leads the Drive toward a Renewable Future

(University of Wisconsin-Madison) … Transportation, heating and the plastics and chemicals we use every day all rely on petroleum products, but our insatiable appetite for fossil fuels will have catastrophic consequences for the health of the planet if left unchecked. That’s why engineers at the Great Lakes Bioenergy Research Center (GLBRC), which

May 14, 2019 Read Full Article

Minnesota — Call for Submissions: EYEWITNESS DEADLINE: October 20, 2019

(Climate Generation) There has never been a more important time in our history to share our climate stories. Add your personal narrative to the chorus of voices to build understanding and inspire action on climate change. EYEWITNESS is a collection of short stories, poems and sketches that speak to the diverse range of

May 14, 2019 Read Full Article

Thune Discusses Climate Change and Other Questions with Sioux Falls High Schoolers

by Jackie Hendry (SDPB Radio) U.S. Senator John Thune made a classroom visit to New Tech High School in Sioux Falls. In January, students wrote letters to South Dakota’s congressional delegation, and Thune took them up on the invitation. He also answered a variety of student questions—most centering on climate change,

May 14, 2019 Read Full Article

The Secrets of Secretion: Isolating Eucalyptus Genes for Oils, Biofuel

(Michigan Technological University/Science Codex) What is the genetic basis for eucalyptus trees to produce that fragrant oil many of us associate with trips to the spa? Carsten Külheim, associate professor in Michigan Technological University’s School of Forest Resources and Environmental Science, has spent the past 10 years of his career studying eucalyptus.

May 10, 2019 Read Full Article

BP, Nouryon, and Port of Rotterdam Explore Green Hydrogen via Water Electrolysis

by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) From the Netherlands arrives the news that BP, Nouryon (formerly AkzoNobel Specialty Chemicals), and the Port of Rotterdam have joined forces to explore the opportunity of making ‘green hydrogen’ via water electrolysis for BP’s refinery in Rotterdam, the Netherlands, which has the potential for significant reductions

May 10, 2019 Read Full Article

Experts Secure £200,000 from the Department for Transport for Research into Greener Travel

(Loughborough University) Loughborough University has been awarded £200,000 for two projects which aim to make the transport sector more environmentally friendly. Dr Jin Xuan, a Senior Lecturer in Low Carbon Processes, Dr Tanja Radu, a Lecturer in Water Engineering, and Dr Jonathan Wagner, a Lecturer in Chemical Engineering, successfully bid for the grant which

May 9, 2019 Read Full Article

Record Solar Hydrogen Production with Concentrated Sunlight

(EPFL) EPFL researchers have created a smart device capable of producing large amounts of clean hydrogen. By concentrating sunlight, their device uses a smaller amount of the rare, costly materials that are required to produce hydrogen, yet it still maintains a high solar-to-fuel efficiency. Their research has been taken to the

May 8, 2019 Read Full Article

Going Green on a Budget: Lessons Taught and Learned at the Green Neighbor Festival

by Joanne Ivancic* (Advanced Biofuels USA) Coal powers the GM Bolt with West Virginia license plates parked in the EV section at Frederick Maryland’s Green Neighbor Festival, explained the enthusiastic owner. Actually, it’s his wife’s car. His is the Volt (with a “V”). He and his WVA extended family have

May 8, 2019 Read Full Article

VTT and RISE Strengthening Collaboration in Bio- and Circular Economy

(Research Institutes of Sweden) The objective of the new agreement between VTT and RISE is to establish a framework for collaboration in the field of bio- and circular economy test and demo infrastructures. The purpose is to create a comprehensive infrastructure portfolio for the benefit of their customers, and to plan

May 7, 2019 Read Full Article

What if Air Conditioners Could Help Save the Planet instead of Destroying It?

by Matt Simon (Wired) … But what if we could weaponize air conditioning units to help pull carbon dioxide out of the atmosphere instead? According to a new paper in Nature Communications, it’s feasible. Using technology currently in development, AC units in skyscrapers and even your home could get turned into machines

May 3, 2019 Read Full Article

Why a Drop of Oil Bounces in a Water/Ethanol Gradient and Eventually Falls to the Bottom of a Jar

by Bob Yirka (Phys.org) A team of researchers working at the University of Twente has solved the mystery of why a drop of oil bounces repeatedly when dropped in a water/ethanol gradient but eventually falls to the bottom of a jar. In their paper published in the journal Physical Review Letters,

May 2, 2019 Read Full Article

Bacteria Turn Agri Waste to Biofuel, First-of-Its-Kind Research

by Himanshu Nitnaware (Pune Mirror) … The researchers worked to find an alternative to fossil fuels through biodegradation of agricultural waste such as wheat straw, and sugarcane bagasse as substrates. The biodegradation was brought about by busing cellulose-degrading bacteria and their enzymes for sustainable development and an environment-friendly approach. … The experts discovered a

May 1, 2019 Read Full Article

Scientists Making ‘Aviation Fuel of the Future’ in Scotland

by Kevin Keane (BBC News) … The fuel is made from waste wooden pellets which are heated, turned into a gas and mixed with other ingredients. A team from Heriot-Watt University is close to working with a major airline on piloting the biomass fuel. … The Edinburgh-based university is one of three which

May 1, 2019 Read Full Article

Flex Fuels and Hybrid Electrification Will Change Heavy Trucks

by Kevin Clemens (Design News) … “We’ve been working for a number of years on ways to make engines for cars and trucks cleaner and more efficient, and we’ve been particularly interested in what you can do with spark ignition [as opposed to the compression ignition used in diesels], because it’s intrinsically

May 1, 2019 Read Full Article

Pierz Healy High School Tours Central Minnesota Renewables

(Minnesota Bio-Fuels Association) Forty-seven students from Pierz Healy High School toured Central Minnesota Renewables (CMR) in Little Falls yesterday to learn more about clean Minnesota-produced renewable chemicals. “We were pleased to welcome Pierz Healy High School to our plant to learn about locally produced bio-based chemicals. Tours like this are an

April 30, 2019 Read Full Article

Jumpstart Stations Have the Ethanol Your Muscle Car Needs!

(MOTOR’N TV) Stations have the Ethanol your Muscle Car needs to achieve its full potential! There are a lot of informational websites and videos on Ethanol. Even M.I.T. has done a study and its favorable to E-85. WATCH VIDEO

April 30, 2019 Read Full Article

SF Schools Committed to Helping the Earth

by Vincent Matthews (San Francisco Examiner/San Francisco Unified School District) We’re celebrating earth day every day here at the San Francisco Unified School District. We’re improving our recycling practices, encouraging energy saving initiatives, exploring clean transportation options and more. … Aging, natural gas-fired equipment to be replaced with clean, efficient heat

April 29, 2019 Read Full Article

Scientists Explore Using Bacteria as Building Blocks fior Alternative Fuels

by Valerie Nikolas (Medill Reports) Researchers at Northwestern University’s Jewett Lab use E. coli and other strains to innovate new renewable compounds — At Northwestern University’s Jewett Lab in the Center for Synthetic Biology, researchers aim to create sustainable chemicals and materials out of existing organic compounds. Using cell-free metabolic

April 29, 2019 Read Full Article

French Amusement Park Teaches Kids about Climate Change

(Our Daily Planet) … While climate change can be a difficult subject to discuss with kids (there’s not a lot of good news), not doing so leaves kids woefully unprepared to understand the planet they will inherit. That’s why a children’s amusement park in Poitiers, France has made its mission to

April 29, 2019 Read Full Article

Celebrating Mother Earth at Siouxland Earth Day event

(Siouxland News) Siouxlanders had the chance to get in touch with nature Sunday afternoon at the Siouxland Earth Day Celebration. From birds and bees to plants of all shapes and sizes, this event had various activities and experiences, all as a way to get in touch with Mother Earth. “Learning about different

April 29, 2019 Read Full Article

Longer Life for Bioelectrodes

(Ruhr-Universität Bochum) The key to long life for bioelectrodes that convert sunlight into electricity lies in an oxygen-free environment. Proteins involved in photosynthesis can be used to inexpensively and efficiently generate solar energy. Although these proteins, such as photosystem I, are inherently robust, the lifetime of isolated protein complexes in semi-artificial

April 29, 2019 Read Full Article

Biofuels Education Critical to Ensuring Rural Growth

by Kelly Manning (Ethanol Producer Magazine/Growth Energy) Educating students key to rural development and growth. — … And as I grew older and traveled around the country witnessing the new role of technology in agriculture and improvements in conservation, I saw firsthand that we needed to do a better job educating our

April 26, 2019 Read Full Article

Study of Sorghum-Munching Aphids Earns NSF Award

(University of Nebraska-Lincoln Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources) … University of Nebraska–Lincoln entomologist Joe Louis is investigating ways to help sorghum naturally resist sugarcane aphids, the crop’s most damaging pest in the United States. Louis earned a five-year, $1.5 million Faculty Early Career Development Program award from the National Science Foundation to

April 26, 2019 Read Full Article

Reducing Energy Required to Convert CO2 Waste into Valuable Resources

(University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign/Phys.Org) Surplus industrial carbon dioxide creates an opportunity to convert waste into a valuable commodity. Excess CO2 can be a feedstock for chemicals typically derived from fossil fuels, but the process is energy-intensive and expensive. University of Illinois chemical engineers have assessed the technical and economic feasibility

April 26, 2019 Read Full Article

UMD College Park Engineering Sustainability Day Highlights Real Projects and Difficulties

by Joanne Ivancic* (Advanced Biofuels USA) No matter what you think of engineers, they have an important role to play in achieving goals of the Green New Deal and climate change mitigation. It was a great way to spending Earth Day — at University of Maryland College Park as a

April 25, 2019 Read Full Article

Duke University Researchers Develop Robotic System that Sniffs Ethanol Leaks

by Meghan Sapp (Biofuels Digest) In North Carolina, engineers at Duke University are developing a smart robotic system for sniffing out pollution hotspots and sources of toxic leaks. Their approach enables a robot to incorporate complex calculations of airflows in confined spaces made on the fly, rather than simply guide the robot

April 24, 2019 Read Full Article

Tech Taiwan Makes Advance in Biofuel Production Technique

by Yu Hsiao-han and Chung Yu-chen (Focus Taiwan News Channel) Academia Sinica Thursday unveiled a technique that facilitates the production of more biofuel using cryo-electron microscopy, a technology that enables researchers to better capture the structure of enzymes — biological catalysts that accelerate the process by which biomass is transformed

April 24, 2019 Read Full Article

Sustainable Way to Increase Seed Oil Yield in Crops

(Science Daily/Nanyang Technological University) Scientists have developed a sustainable way to demonstrate a new genetic modification that can increase the yield of natural oil in seeds by up to 15% in laboratory conditions. — The new method can be applied to crops such as canola, soybean and sunflower, which are in a

April 24, 2019 Read Full Article

Most Teachers Don’t Teach Climate Change; 4 In 5 Parents Wish They Did

by Anya Kamenetz (KNKX/NPR) More than 80% of parents in the U.S. support the teaching of climate change. And that support crosses political divides, according to the results of an exclusive new NPR/Ipsos poll: Whether they have children or not, two-thirds of Republicans and 9 in 10 Democrats agree that the

April 24, 2019 Read Full Article

Announcing the Conservation Storytelling Fellowship DEADLINE: May 6, 2019

(Atlas Obscura Community) Atlas Obscura is searching for a student pursuing a degree in conservation, ecology, or science communication who is looking to advance their skills in science communication. This individual will have the opportunity to join our September 2019 Expedition Amazon trip 154 for an immersive week in one of the planet’s most

April 19, 2019 Read Full Article

Worcester Polytechnic Institute Helps Develop a Novel Extraction Process that May Provide a More Economical Way to Make a Promising Biofuel

(Worcester Polytechnic Institute/PR Web) Isobutanol has been hailed as a possible green replacement for fossil fuels like gasoline, but producing it has proven difficult and costly. In a paper in Nature Communications, a research team that includes a WPI chemical engineer shows how a novel process may make producing this and

April 19, 2019 Read Full Article

Growth Energy, NAAE Release Curriculum to Promote Biofuels Education in the Classroom

(Growth Energy) Growth Energy, in partnership with the National Association of Agricultural Educators (NAAE), announced the release of their new curriculum aimed at educating high school students to the world of biofuels. The curriculum is the first industry-supported biofuels curriculum that provides students a guided in-classroom experience and will offer ag educators the tools needed

April 19, 2019 Read Full Article

St Peter High School Tours Guardian Energy

(Minnesota Bio-Fuels Association) Fourteen students from St Peter High School toured Guardian Energy in Janesville this morning to learn about homegrown renewable fuel production. During the tour, the students, who were from the school’s plant science class, learned about several components of ethanol production including incoming grain grading, grain handling, fermentation,

April 18, 2019 Read Full Article

Florida Climate-Smart Ag Initiative Announced

(Solutions from the Land) Florida agricultural leaders are calling for deeper exploration of farmers, ranchers, and forest land owners as suppliers of environmental protection as well as of food and fiber. The Florida Climate-Smart Agriculture Work Group has declared its ambitions to craft a plan for how the state’s 26 million acres of

April 18, 2019 Read Full Article

ICGEB’s Novel Yeast Strain Increases Ethanol Production

by R. Prasad (The Hindu) The strain produces ethanol by fermenting rice and wheat straw — Compared with currently available strains, a robust yeast strain (Saccharomyces cerevisiae NGY10) that can produce up to 15.5% more ethanol when glucose or lignocellulose biomass — rice and wheat straw — is fermented has been isolated by

April 17, 2019 Read Full Article

Gov. Ivey Awards Grant to AU for Feasibility Study on Biofuels Crop

(Office of Alabama Governor Kay Ivey) A $39,757 grant, awarded by Gov. Kay Ivey, will enable Auburn University to determine if an oilseed crop can be successfully grown and marketed in Alabama as a biofuel and become another cash crop for the state’s farmers. Carinata, also known as Ethiopian mustard, is

April 16, 2019 Read Full Article

RFA Earns Seventh Straight TRANSCAER® Award

by Cindy Zimmerman (Energy. AgWired.com) For the seventh consecutive year, the Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) has received a TRANSCAER® National Achievement Award for its industry-leading ethanol safety program. RFA hosted numerous ethanol safety training events in 2018, giving more than 1,800 emergency responders the tools and information they need to effectively respond to

April 12, 2019 Read Full Article

MIT Says We’re Overlooking a Near-Term Solution to Diesel Trucking Emissions

by Megan Guess (ARS Technica) … Daniel Cohn and Leslie Bromberg, a pair of researchers from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), published a paper with the Society of Automotive Engineers, suggesting that the best way forward is not to wait for all-electric or hydrogen-powered semis, but to build a plug-in

April 12, 2019 Read Full Article

NUI Galway Launches Biofuels Research Lab

(Roscommon Herald) NUI Galway has launched a new laboratory to research the generation of biofuels from organic waste. Professor Piet Lens, a leading expert in environmental biotechnology, will lead a team of 25 PhD and post-doctoral researchers in the university’s Department of Microbiology Programme, ‘Innovative Energy Technologies for Bioenergy, Biofuels and

April 12, 2019 Read Full Article

Biodiesel Made from Used Tyres Could Be the Solution to Australia’s Fuel Security Problems

by Erin Semmler (ABC News) A central Queensland oil refinery has made biofuel from old tyres that can work in a standard diesel engine; Hopes are the production of the fuel, once commercialised, will help curb tyre waste and offer fuel security in the event of market failure; One passenger tyre will provide approximately

April 12, 2019 Read Full Article

Students Learn About Ethanol Production at Heartland Corn Products

(Minnesota Bio-Fuels Association) Twenty-seven students from Central High School in Norwood Young America visited Heartland Corn Products in Winthrop yesterday to get a closer look at how clean, homegrown renewable fuels are produced. The students, from the school’s Small Gas Engines class, toured the various processes of ethanol production at Heartland

April 10, 2019 Read Full Article

Texas A&M Engineering Experiment Station : Fats and Oils Program Receives Industry Support for Teaching and Targeted Short Courses

by Dr. Joya Mannan (Market Screener/Texas A&M Engineering Experiment Station) Dr. Mohammad Alam, head of the Fats and Oils Program at the Process Engineering Research and Development Center (PERDC), has received a grant from the Malaysian Palm Oil Board to fund several semesters of teaching and short courses about the significance of

April 10, 2019 Read Full Article

Motorcyclists Using Ethanol

(FuelsFix/Renewable Fuels Association) The Renewable Fuels Association gets a lot of questions about using biofuel blends in motorcycles, so they decided to ask the bikers who know best. WATCH VIDEO

April 9, 2019 Read Full Article

A Laser Focus on Finding Better Ways to Make Renewable Fuels

by Whitney Clavin (California Institute of Technology/Phys.org) … Researchers have for decades made strides in using sunlight to split water molecules into oxygen and hydrogen, wherein the resulting hydrogen gas can be used as stored fuel. But the method is still too expensive. Materials called catalysts are needed to run the

April 9, 2019 Read Full Article

Make a World of Difference — Explore Penn State Energy and Sustainability Programs Online

(Pennsylvania State University) The global shift to clean energy is creating opportunities for project developers and policy experts to drive renewable energy initiatives and encourage a culture of sustainability. Prepare yourself to help shape the future by graduating from one of Penn State’s energy and sustainability programs, offered completely online

April 9, 2019 Read Full Article

Technology Turns Municipal Wastewater Algae into Specialty Chemicals for Biofuels, Bioplastics

(Purdue University/Phys.org) Gen3Bio has designed mobile 15-gallon enzymolysis pilot plants to be placed in wastewater treatment facilities to transform algae into specialty bio-based chemicals, such as biofuels or bioplastics. — A startup is advancing a unique way to transform algae used to purify municipal wastewater into specialty bio-based chemicals such as

April 8, 2019 Read Full Article

Minnewaska High School Tours CVEC

(Minnesota Bio-Fuels Association) Twenty-two high school students from Minnewaska High School toured Chippewa Valley Ethanol Company (CVEC) on April 5 to gain a better understanding of renewable fuel production. The students, from grades 9-12, toured the various process of ethanol production at CVEC, which has an annual output of 50 million

April 8, 2019 Read Full Article

New Study: Non Flex Fuel Vehicles Benefit From Ethanol Blends

(Urban Air Initiative) A newly published study finds that most vehicles on the road today can adapt to mid-level ethanol blends, helping cars run more efficiently while reducing greenhouse gas emissions along with other pollutants. The study was conducted by North Carolina State University and commissioned by the Urban Air Initiative. “This study

April 8, 2019 Read Full Article

Carbon Markets, Low Carbon and Sustainable Aviation Fuels with ATAG 2019 Global Sustainable Aviation Forum (Classroom, 3 days)

As ICAO Member States begin to implement the Carbon Offset and Reduction Scheme for International Aviation (CORSIA), there is growing importance for airlines to have a carbon strategy to ensure their business is not only compliant but also profitable. There are three options to comply with the environmental goals of

April 8, 2019 Read Full Article

Carbon Markets, Low Carbon and Sustainable Aviation Fuels with ATAG 2019 Global Sustainable Aviation Forum (Classroom, 3 days) — May 13-15, 2019 — Montreal, Quebec, Canada

As ICAO Member States begin to implement the Carbon Offset and Reduction Scheme for International Aviation (CORSIA), there is growing importance for airlines to have a carbon strategy to ensure their business is not only compliant but also profitable. There are three options to comply with the environmental goals of

April 8, 2019 Read Full Article

Algae-Derived Solar Fuel

(Algae Industry Magazine) Susan Kraemer writes in solarpaces.org that to use solar thermal energy to convert farmed algae to fuel, the solar fuels research team at Australian National University (ANU), led by John Pye together with Mahesh Venkataraman, proposed a new process, detailed in their paper Modelling of a 50 MWth On-Sun Reactor

April 3, 2019 Read Full Article

Circular Bioeconomy Days 2019 — June 25-27, 2019 — Foulum, Denmark

How can companies and agriculture enter into a circular bioeconomy, and how do we ensure that its further development will be of value to industry and society? These questions are the focal points of the conference Circular Bioeconomy Days 2019, to be held from 25 to 27 June 2019 at Aarhus

April 3, 2019 Read Full Article

Food, Energy, New Materials – How Do We Use Our Land Resources Most Effectively? — April 11, 2019 — Gothenburg, Sweden

The demand for land and biomass is expected to increase, as a growing and wealthier global population requires more food, paper, textiles, etc. Additional biomass demand arises as policies, regulations and strategies are aligned with visions about a biobased circular economy, which have been formulated in response to concerns about

April 3, 2019 Read Full Article

Technical Report Comparison of Biofuel Life Cycle Analysis Tools

(Task 39 – Commercializing Liquid Biofuels/International Energy Agency (IEA Bioenergy)) … Bioenergy plays an important role in the decarbonization of the transportation sector. Its medium and long-term benefits depend on the reduction of greenhouse gases (GHG) emissions brought forth by the conversion of renewable feedstocks, which can be quantitatively determined through a Life

April 2, 2019 Read Full Article

BC Green Games Are Back!

(BC Green Games) BC Green Games is a digital eco-storytelling contest designed to closely link with BC’s new curriculum while supporting teachers and promoting place-based environmental education. Our project-style contest offers teachers and students a 21st century learning opportunity in scientific exploration, storytelling, campaigning and policy development. Teams document and share their

April 2, 2019 Read Full Article

City of Surrey Develops Biofuels Education Program at Surrey Biofuel Facility

(City of Surrey) Orgaworld and the City of Surrey are committed to increasing the awareness of waste management and sustainable living through education, early adoption and applied research. In addition to a visit to our on-site Education Centre, we encourage exploration of the wide range of available materials that map to

April 2, 2019 Read Full Article

Cedar Mountain High School Tours Highwater Ethanol

(Minnesota Bio-Fuels Association) Twenty-eight students from Cedar Mountain High School toured Highwater Ethanol in Lamberton on March 27 to learn more about ethanol production. “We were pleased to welcome Cedar Mountain High School’s students to get a first-hand look at how clean Minnesota-grown renewable energy is produced. “During the tour, they

April 2, 2019 Read Full Article

Air Pollution Caused by Corn Production Increases Mortality Rate in US

(University of Minnesota/EurekAlert!) New paper presents how researchers have estimated for the first time the health damages caused by corn production — A new study establishes that environmental damage caused by corn production results in 4,300 premature deaths annually in the United States, representing a monetized cost of $39 billion. The paper,

April 2, 2019 Read Full Article

Students’ Soybean Straws Win Award

(The Exponent) Three Purdue students brought home top honors and a $20,000 prize at this year’s Student Soybean Product Innovation Competition for their biodegradable soybean based drinking straw, according to a Purdue press release. “Team Stroy” is made up of Natalie Stephenson, a senior in the Krannert School of Management; Morgan Malm, a graduate

April 2, 2019 Read Full Article

Rhetoric for Change: Advanced Biofuel USA’s Call-to-Action

By Michael Eggleston* (Advanced Biofuels USA) Rhetoric is a fundamental part of social change. According to a 2015 survey conducted by the Pew Research Center, the majority of American scientists support the idea that participation in policy debates and engagement with citizens and journalists is necessary to further their work.

April 1, 2019 Read Full Article

NCMA Courses on Algae Culturing and Identification

(Algae Biomass Organization) The National Center for Marine Algae and Microbiota (NCMA) at the Bigelow Laboratory for Ocean Sciences will be offering two courses this year that may be of interest to ABO members looking to enhance their culturing and identification skills: The Algal Culturing Course will be ideal for graduate students,

March 29, 2019 Read Full Article

Minneota High School visits Carbohydrate Solutions

(Minnesota Bio-Fuels Association) Twelve students from Minneota High School visited the Archer Daniels Midland Company’s Carbohydrate Solutions plant in Marshall on Wednesday, March 27 to get a better understanding of renewable fuel production. The students, all 12th graders, toured the various production process areas at ADM Carbohydrate Solutions, which included ethanol

March 29, 2019 Read Full Article

Electrochemistry for Biofuels Waste Valorization: Vinasse as a Reducing Agent for Pt/C and Its Application to the Electrolysis of Glycerin and Vinasse

by RudyCrisafulli, Fernando M.de Lino Amorim, Suzana M.L.de Oliveira Marcionilio, William Mendes Cunha, Brenda R.S.de Araújo, José A.Dias and José J.Linares (Electrichemistry Communications) Vinasse is used for the first time for preparation of a Pt/C electrocatalyst. Deposition of Pt particles was achieved with some cotton-like agglomerations. Vinasse-prepared Pt/C was very active for glycerol

March 28, 2019 Read Full Article

Teachers of the Trade

by Lisa Gibson (Ethanol Producer Magazine) An American Ethanol partnership facilitated an ethanol-focused presentation to future and current mechanics at one Universal Technical Institute campus. — Mechanic certification focuses intensely on engines themselves, and the mechanical aspects of engine parts. It makes sense, then, that mechanics are just as susceptible to believing

March 27, 2019 Read Full Article

Apoptosis in Algae Could Have Implications for Biofuels Production

(Biofuels International) A new study has shown the first evidence of programmed cell death, or apoptosis, in algae, which could have wide-reaching implications for the production of biofuels. Results of the research carried out by University of Alberta (UAlberta) microbiologists were published in a paper titled ‘Phaeobacter inhibens induces apoptosis-like programmed cell

March 27, 2019 Read Full Article

Scientists Develop High-CO2-Tolerant Microalgae

(Algae Industry Magazine/Chinese Academy of Sciences) … However, the high concentration of carbon dioxide in flue gases generally inhibits the growth of industrial microalgae. Therefore, reducing the so-called “CO2 poisoning effect,” i.e., improving tolerance to high levels of CO2, has become a priority in the development of super microalgae for carbon fixation.

March 27, 2019 Read Full Article

Ridgewater College Toured Chippewa Valley Ethanol Company (CVEC)

(Minnesota Bio-Fuels Association) Forty-one students from Ridgewater College toured Chippewa Valley Ethanol Company (CVEC) in Benson yesterday to learn about an important ethanol co-product, dried distiller’s grains with solubles (DDGS). “Tours like this educate students on the role ethanol plays in boosting the economy in rural Minnesota and reducing harmful greenhouse

March 27, 2019 Read Full Article

Surrey Catalyst IP Set to Ignite Innovation in Modern Bio-Refineries

(University of Surrey) The University of Surrey has developed a new, cost-effective type of catalyst that it hopes will ignite innovation in bio-derived added value chemicals and bring about the next generation of bio-refineries. As the world is looking to combat the catastrophic effects of climate change, many hope that bio-based

March 26, 2019 Read Full Article

WEBINAR: Key Competencies for Sustainability Degree Programs — April 3, 2019

Every year, new sustainability degree programs are launched at colleges and universities across the country, joining a global trend of sustainability degree programs. The 2017 National Council for Science and the Environment (NCSE) Research Report “Scope of Interdisciplinary Environmental, Sustainability, and Energy Baccalaureate and Graduate Education in the United States”

March 24, 2019 Read Full Article

Cricket Bacteria Break Down Lignin, Highlighting Ecology’s Utility in Applied R&D

(North Carolina State University/Phys.org) Researchers have discovered that a bacterium found in camel crickets is capable of breaking down lignin—the stuff that makes wood tough—opening new research pathways for the development of biofuels and chemical manufacturing. The study also highlights the potential inherent in using ecosystem analysis as a tool

March 22, 2019 Read Full Article

Princeton’s Algal Library Explores Genes for Photosynthesis

(Algae Industry Magazine) A team led by Princeton University researchers has constructed a public algae “library” to help researchers find out what each gene does during photosynthesis. Using the library, the team identified 303 genes associated with photosynthesis, including 21 newly discovered genes with high potential to provide new insights

March 20, 2019 Read Full Article

Soy Innovation Campus to Co-locate with New Minn. Biodiesel Plant

by Ron Kotrba (Biodiesel Magazine) The Minnesota Soybean Research & Promotion Council plans to co-locate its new Soy Innovation Campus with Epitome Energy LLC’s proposed 30 MMgy biodiesel production and soybean crush facility in Northwest Minnesota. Earlier this year, Epitome Energy was awarded a $450,000 grant from the Minnesota Department of

March 20, 2019 Read Full Article

Farmers from Oltenia and Clariant to Partner for a Cleaner Environment

(Clariant) Opportunity for significant extra revenues for farmers in Oltenia by selling straw residue to the cellulosic ethanol plant built by Clariant in Romania — Clariant, a focused and innovative specialty chemical company, provides farmers in Oltenia with the opportunity to transform straw into an additional source of income. As part of

March 20, 2019 Read Full Article

Biomass for Bioenergy: The Digest’s 2019 Multi-Slide Guide to IEA Bioenergy

by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) International Energy Agencyis an autonomous organization that works to ensure reliable, affordable and clean energy for its 30 member countries and beyond. Professor Mark Brown, Director of Forest Industries Research Centre – USC, IEA Bioenergy Exco Rep for Australia, and Task Leader for the IEA Bioenergy Task

March 20, 2019 Read Full Article

Commitment to R&D is the Key

by Debi Durham (Iowa Economic Development Authority/Biofuels Digest) … Toward that end, Iowa offers incentives such as the Research Activities Tax Credit to alleviate the potential financial risk associated with R&D investments, and ultimately, improve the potential for profitability. As one of the few states providing this kind of incentive,

March 20, 2019 Read Full Article

USGC: Ethanol Education Is Essential to Winning Mexican Market

(U.S. Grains Council/Ethanol Producer Magazine) The key to making informed decisions is education, and that’s just what the U.S. Grains Council’s goal has been regarding increasing demand for U.S. fuel ethanol in Mexico. After Mexico changed its law in 2017 to allow up to an E10 blend outside of three major

March 19, 2019 Read Full Article

What a Microbe Would Say on Glassdoor

by Mark Warner (Warner Advisors LLC/Biofuels Digest) In my previous article on Scale-up from the Microbes Perspective, I discussed how the biotechnology commercialization process would be viewed by a microbe. This is a little lighter topic than the engineering subjects I usually write about, but the robust response to the article made me

March 19, 2019 Read Full Article

Transcription Factor Network Gets to Heart of Wood Formation

by D’Lyn Ford and Jack Wang (North Carolina State University News) North Carolina State University researchers have uncovered how a complex network of transcription factors switch wood formation genes on and off. Understanding this transcriptional regulatory network has applications for modifying wood properties for timber, paper and biofuels, as well as making

March 18, 2019 Read Full Article

Ethanol Use Falls for First Time in 20 Years

by John Herath (Farm Journal Media) RFA Blames Waivers for Refiners — Ethanol use in the United States last year fell for the first time since 1998, according to data from the Energy Information Administration. The Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) is blaming that fall on waivers EPA granted to refiners allowing them

March 15, 2019 Read Full Article

The Kids of March Are on Strike

by Kelsey Tamborrino (Politico’s Morning Energy) Youth activists concerned by the threat of climate change will skip class across more than 100 countries today to call for greater climate action. The U.S. effort is inspired by 16-year-old climate activist Greta Thunberg, who held weekly strikes to protest outside the Swedish

March 15, 2019 Read Full Article

The Energy 202: A Wave of State Bills Could Threaten Science and Climate Education

by Paulina Firozi (Washington Post) State lawmakers from Connecticut to Florida are proposing measures that some groups say could threaten how science and climate change are taught in the classroom. More than a dozen such bills have popped up this year, including from state lawmakers pushing back against broad scientific consensus that

March 14, 2019 Read Full Article

Novel Potent Antimicrobial from Thermophilic Bacterium

(University of Groningen/EurekAlert!) University of Groningen microbiologists and their colleagues from Lithuania have discovered a new glycocin, a small antimicrobial peptide with a sugar group attached, which is produced by a thermophilic bacterium and is stable at relatively high temperatures. They also succeeded in transferring the genes required to produce this

March 14, 2019 Read Full Article

OBIC and The Next Generation–Teacher Resources

(Ohio Bioproducts Innovation Center) The Ohio Bioproducts Innovation Center (OBIC) connects different segments of the bioproducts community to nurture business ecosystems and facilitate commercialization of new, sustainable bioproduct technologies. With the emerging need for education about the bioeconomy, OBIC works with youth organizations like FFA, 4H, and other organizations