(Lab Manager/U.S. Department of Energy) Wood’s complex structure makes it highly resistant to biological or chemical decomposition. The structure includes cellulose, long chains of linked sugar molecules, embedded in a scaffolding of a chemical known as lignin. Brown rot fungi,
(SciDev.Net) Research team produces aviation fuel from jatropha plants grown in desert with sewage water; Aim is to cut aviation emissions, but high cost remains a challenge for use by the end of 2017; Semi-industrial experiments kicked off to develop a production method
by Judith Garfield (San Diego Community Newspaper Group) ... In my first article “Scripps research on biofuels hits close to home Part 1,”readers traveled with me on Scripps Institution of Oceanography’s R/V Sproul as I helped carry out research on
by Catherine Zandonella (News at Princeton) Three projects with the potential for broad impacts in science and technology have been selected to receive support from the Eric and Wendy Schmidt Transformative Technology Fund. The projects include a technology for improving ultrasound's
(Iowa State University) A special issue of the journal Energy Technology details the latest advances in pyrolysis technologies for converting biomass into fuels, chemicals and fertilizers. Two pyrolysis experts are guest editors of the issue: Robert C. Brown, the director of
by Jeff Mulhollem (Penn State News) Africa and agroforestry — defined as agriculture that incorporates the cultivation and conservation of trees — are in Penn State professor Michael Jacobson's blood, and the combination has helped shape his career. In turn, the
by Steffen Mueller (University of Illinois at Chicago/Ethanol Producer Magazine) Strategically located ethanol sources cannot be economically replaced. -- Carbon dioxide sourced from corn-ethanol plants is not a waste-recovery product but a coproduct that, in many regions, can only be
(Scrivener Publishing) The most comprehensive and up-to-date treatment of all the possible aspects for biofeedstock processing and the production of energy from biofeedstocks. Audience Chemical engineers, petroleum engineers, process engineers, students in chemical engineering, biotechnology, petroleum engineering, agricultural biotechnology, applied microbiology, environmental
(NewBIO) Something new happened in the bioenergy willow world this week in Pennsylvania. A new type of willow energy crop harvester got its first run on a willow crop in Pennsylvania. The machine, a 2 row harvester, was acquired as part
(Phys.Org) A new study published last week in the journal Environmental Research Letters by researchers at the University of Puerto Rico offers the first regional look at lands being converted to palm oil plantations in Latin America. Palm oil is
by Anne Trafton (MIT News) MIT engineers have genetically reprogrammed a strain of yeast so that it converts sugars to fats much more efficiently, an advance that could make possible the renewable production of high-energy fuels such as diesel. The researchers,
(PHYCO2/Biodiesel Magazine) PHYCO2 LLC, an emerging algae production, waste water treatment and carbon dioxide sequestration company, announced the successful treatment of wastewater from breweries to comply with state water discharge limits for nitrates and phosphates. During Phase 4 of the multiyear trial
(Montclair State University/Biomass Magazine) Pankaj Lal, associate professor of Earth and Environmental Studies and associate director of the PSEG Institute for Sustainability Studies at Montclair State University, is among 102 recipients of the Presidential Early Career Awards for Scientists and Engineers.
by Cindy Zimmerman (Energy.AgWired.com) The Renewable Fuels Association and the Renewable Fuels Foundation are proud to announce two students are receiving scholarships this year to attend RFA’s 22nd annual National Ethanol Conference: Building Partnerships, Growing Markets next month in San
(South China Morning Post/sponsored) ... This new Catalyst for Green Biodiesel can be synthesized in one step from low-grade unrefined feedstock such as waste cooking oil, with no aqueous treatment steps required. Ethanol or propanol extracted from plants can also be
(EurekAlert!/Kobe University) A Japanese research group led by Associate Professor ASHIDA Hiroki (Graduate School of Human Development and Environment, Kobe University), Academic Researcher KONO Takunari (Graduate School of Human Development and Environment, Kobe University), and Professor MATSUMURA Hiroyoshi (Ritsumeikan University)
(Karlsruhe Institute of Technology) Climate Researchers Study Impacts of Land-use Change on Carbon Dioxide - Reforestation Is Important to Climate Protection and Species Diversity – Study in Nature Geoscience -- CO2 emissions caused by changes of land use may possibly
by Matt Wheeler (Phys.Org) ... Bendy Estime, a biomedical and chemical engineering Ph.D. candidate, has devoted his research to this area, and developed a new technology for energy efficient cultivation and harvesting of microalgae. ... "The study is an attempt to address three 'bottlenecks'
by Ivy Ashe (Hawaii Tribune Herald) ... The latest stop along that path comes from researchers at the University of Hawaii at Manoa’s College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources, who are investigating potential dual contributions of crops used to
by Prabhuraj Balakrishnan (University of Manchester/Nanowerk News) ... In a research work by The University of Manchester academics (Prof. Colin Webb's research group at the School of Chemical Engineering), a new methodology have been developed, that significantly reduces the time and
(Montana State University/Biomass Magazine) A Montana State University scientist has received a $1.2 million grant from the U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Science to research ways to improve the usefulness of camelina, an ancient crop that the modern world
by Anne Trafton (MIT/Biomass Magazine) MIT engineers have genetically reprogrammed a strain of yeast so that it converts sugars to fats much more efficiently, an advance that could make possible the renewable production of high-energy fuels such as diesel. The researchers,
by Blaine Friedlander (Phys.Org) To unravel how intricate waste biomass converts to biofuels, a Cornell professor studied the bacterium Clostridium acetobutylicum to decipher its metabolism. Understanding the bacterium's sugar-processing complexities may lead to improved biofuel yields. "It is recognized for over
by Liz Gyekye (Biofuels International) Roberto Rinaldi FRSC, a senior lecturer in the Department of Chemical Engineering at Imperial College London has been awarded a European Research Council (ERC) Consolidator Grant to fund his world-leading work on lignin valorisation. According to
by Jeff Kulikowsky (MyTwinTiers.com) Morrisville partners with JD Farms in Eaton on industrial hemp pilot program -- Hemp may not be what you'd think of as the next big cash crop but plenty in New York, including Governor Andrew Cuomo, think
(Iowa State University) A special issue of the journal Energy Technology details the latest advances in pyrolysis technologies for converting biomass into fuels, chemicals and fertilizers. Two pyrolysis experts are guest editors of the issue: Robert C. Brown, the director of
(University of Illinois/EurekAlert!) Today many biofuel refineries operate for only seven months each year, turning freshly harvested crops into ethanol and biodiesel. When supplies run out, biorefineries shut down for the other five months. However, according to recent research, dual-purpose
(Aberystwyth University) ... Now a new eco-friendly process developed by Aberystwyth University biology graduate Joe Freemantle could provide a solution. Joe has devised a process to turn disposable nappies, incontinence pads and sanitary products into valuable products including pure cellulose fibre and
(Science News/University of Michigan) When growing algae in outdoor ponds as a next-generation biofuel, a naturally diverse mix of species will help reduce the chance of crop failure, according to a new study. -- ... Algae-derived biocrude oil is being
(Environmental Research Web) Cultivating algae for food and biofuel could make a serious dent in our greenhouse gas emissions, as well as helping to save freshwater resources and reduce deforestation. Currently the emissions associated with land-use change and agriculture account for
(EurekAlert!/PLOS) Two potential biofuel crops in Hawaii--sugarcane and napiergrass--may sequester more carbon in soil than is lost to the atmosphere, according to a study published January 4, 2017 in the open-access journal PLOS ONE by Meghan Pawlowski from University of
by Grace Schneider (Courier-Journal) After a recent boost in funding, the Conn Center for Renewable Energy Research at the University of Louisville is delving into the science and economics of commercializing industrial hemp. It’s a new line of work for the center, located
(Millenni um Campus (Google Translation)) ...In the Rectors' Hall of the Central Building, the university leader recognized Ignacio Contreras Andrade, a researcher at the Faculty of Biological Chemistry Sciences, for having obtained the first place in the silver category of
by Nicole Heslip (Brownfield Ag News) New research at Michigan State University has the potential to create a biofuel source produced by algae. Plant researcher Danny Ducat tells Brownfield certain algae bacteria can capture more solar energy, using less land and
(Algae Industry Magazine) Marine algae have the power to simultaneously fuel vehicles, recycle carbon dioxide, and provide nutrition to animals and humans,” said Ira A. Levine, a tenured Professor of Natural and Applied Sciences at the University of Southern Maine
(U.S. Department of Energy) Today, the Energy Department (DOE) announced up to $7 million for eight universities to accelerate the introduction of affordable, scalable, and sustainable high-performance fuels for use in high-efficiency, low-emission engines. Under the Co-Optimization of Fuels and Engines (Co-Optima)
(Oregon State University) The use of residual forest biomass for rural development faces significant economic hurdles that make it unlikely to be a source of jobs in the near future, according to an analysis by economists at Oregon State University. In
(Iowa State University) Iowa State University will bring its expertise in biorenewable technologies and pilot plant operations to the country’s 10th Manufacturing USA Institute. The recently announced advanced manufacturing institute is dedicated to improving the productivity and efficiency of chemical manufacturing.
by Brian Warshay, J. Jed Brown, Sgouris Sgouridis (The International Journal of Life Cycle Assessment) Prospective evaluation of the lifecycle impacts of aviation biofuel production in Abu Dhabi, UAE based on a production system that integrates aquaculture, saltwater agriculture, and mangrove silviculture, termed an
(University of California, Irvine) Using a novel approach involving a key enzyme that helps regulate global nitrogen, University of California, Irvine molecular biologists have discovered an effective way to convert carbon dioxide (CO2) to carbon monoxide (CO) that can be
by Enrico Belga Jr. (Rappler) Dubbed as 'Bio-Gab,' the group’s biofuel invention converts wild taro, which is hazardous to humans and animals, into a bioethanol that can fuel cars -- ... This need also motivated a group of college students from St
(Michigan State University) Michigan State University scientists have engineered “molecular Velcro” into cyanobacteria, boosting this microalgae’s biofuel viability as well as its potential for other research. The findings, featured in the current issue of ACS Synthetic Biology, show how MSU researchers
(University of Cambridge) Molecules 10,000 times narrower than the width of a human hair could hold the key to making possible wooden skyscrapers and more energy-efficient paper production, according to research published today in the journal Nature Communications. The study,
(Phys.Org/ DOE/Joint Genome Institute) ... To learn more about how bacteria interact with fungi in a symbiotic relationship to support the biochemistries that could contribute to the development of alternate fuel sources, Cornell and DOE JGI researchers used a model bacterial-fungal
by Kathleen Tuck (Boise State University) A paper co-authored by Lisa Warner, an assistant research professor in the Biomolecular Research Center, looks at how Clostridium thermocellum breaks down and converts cellulosic biomass to produce biofuels, including hydrogen and hydrocarbons, while
(University of Missouri) Switchgrass Can Improve Soil Quality on Eroded Farms, Study Finds -- The loss of fertile topsoil from agricultural fields is an economic problem for modern farmers. When runoff water washes topsoil from agricultural fields in areas with
(Dow AgroSciences/Business Wire) Dow AgroSciences, Boyce Thompson Institute, Cornell University and Agriculture Victoria Working Together on Essential African Root Crop -- More productive cassava plants, a root crop that is foundational for food security in Africa, will be made possible by
(American Science and Technology/Ethanol Producer Magazine) American Science and Technology, a sustainable technology company, has teamed up with Terma Group, a team of Waste and Environmental Technology researchers at the University of Malaga in Spain, to continue efforts on the
by Scott Weybright (Washington State University) When it comes to second generation biofuels, Washington State University research shows that consumers are willing to pay a premium of approximately 11 percent over conventional fuel. “We were surprised the premium was that significant,”
(Tech2) Scientists at Indian Institute of Technology – Kharagpur have unlocked the secret to ramp up yields of biofuel sourced from commonly found aquatic weeds such as water hyacinths. In a new study published on December 1 in Nature Scientific Reports,
(Science Daily) Researchers in Australia have made an important discovery about how sand 'holds its breath' -- specifically, how diatoms survive in the ever-changing environmental conditions of a beach. The finding has major implications for the biofuels industry. -- ... The
(Algae Industry Magazine) Angelo Paggi Matos, a doctoral student from Federal University of Santa Catarina (UFSC), in Brasília, Brazil, has been awarded an honorable mention by MERCOSUL Science and Technology Awards — Category: Young Scientist, with a work entitled: Biochemical
by Rachel Grant-Brown (Cargill) Students Rachana Halasabele and Alessia Xu from The University of Manchester in the UK recently triumphed with their innovative and practical winning solution to a real-life industry problem set by Cargill’s ethanol experts at their starches and
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ... So, what do you do about the Frost Wall. Generally, you can grow more with the first harvest — that’s yield improvement. Or, you can grow more in the extreme north — that’s crop expansion.
(Bentley University/PR Newswire) Bentley University research fellow Michael J. Walsh leads study finding algae food to have potential to mitigate climate change -- Scientists affiliated with the Marine Algal Industrialization Consortium have published a research article demonstrating the potential of
(Washington State University/Biomass Magazine) Researchers at Washington State University Tri-Cities have been awarded a National Science Foundation I-Corps grant to explore the market potential of their biojet fuel research. The team has successfully demonstrated a new, water-based process for deconstructing and
(Phys.Org) New research at the Integrated Bioprocessing Research Laboratory (IBRL) on the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign campus could significantly change ethanol production by lowering operating costs and simplifying the dry grind process. "There are currently more than 200 dry grind plants
by David Tenenbaum (University of Wisconsin-Madison) ... (James) Steele, the University of Wisconsin–Madison Winder-Bascom professor of food science, specializes in food, beverage and biofuel fermentation. Understanding how bacteria and yeast convert biomass into products has been his stock-in-trade for more than
(Biodico/Biodiesel Magazine) Biodico Inc. announced Nov. 29 that it has made its first delivery of biodiesel to the University of California, Santa Barbara. The biodiesel, which was produced from used cooking oil collected at the university, will fuel tractors and
by Katherine Bourzac (Chemical & Engineering News) Technology to produce fuels from sunlight, water, and carbon dioxide faces scientific and economic challenges -- READ MORE and MORE (Environmental and Energy Study Institute) Excerpt from Environmental and Energy Study Institute: Scientists are pushing
by Lexy Hamilton-Smith (ABC) A green start-up technology company has surprised scientists by producing a biofuel from old rubber tyres that can run turbo-charged diesel engines while reducing emissions by 30 per cent. Green Distillation Technologies (GDT) can produce 3,000 litres of
(Science Daily) An alternate use for sugarcane waste has been proposed by a research team in India. While sugar is falling out of favor around the world, sugarcane residue is becoming a useful commodity, they say. -- Indian researchers pioneer
(Revista Summa (Google Translation)) In order to generate an alternative and friendly fuel with the environment, a group of graduates biotechnologists Technology of Costa Rica (TEC) is, for four years, conducting research with whey and its transformation potential in biodiesel. This entrepreneurial
by Clarence Michael (Masdar Institute) Her Excellency Sheikha Lubna bint Khalid Al Qasimi Presents Award to Dr. Hanifa Taher Al Blooshi for Research in Designing A NEW Novel System for Enzymatic Biodiesel Production - Her Excellency Sheikha Lubna Bint Khalid Al
(Global Alliance for Clean Cookstoves) Shifting from a cookstove that burns traditional woodfuel to a stove that uses a cleaner-burning fuel such as ethanol may mitigate cardiovascular health risks in pregnant women, according to a new study led by a
(Algae Industry Magazine) A group of educators and researchers from Cornell University, the Cornell Algal Biofuel Consortium (CABC), has published a comparative commentary in the December, 2016 issue of Oceanography, the quarterly journal of The Oceanography Society. The commentary sums up a
by Brooks Hays (UPI) Chemical engineer Jae Sung Lee said the research will offer a "new opportunity for recycling CO2 into valuable fuels and chemicals." -- Researchers have developed a new way to turn captured CO2 into liquid biofuel capable
(Iresiduo (Google Translation)) Specialists of the Center for Research Science and Higher Education of Ensenada ( CICESE) develop a prototype version biodiesel plant that will produce from microalgae and work with solar energy. Pilar Sánchez Saavedra, Department of Aquaculture, and Daniel Carvajal
(Advanced Hardwood Biofuels Northwest) This talk introduces a web-based decision support tool for biorefinery siting and explores the economic viability of potential biorefinery locations in Chehalis, WA, Dallas, OR, and Hayden,ID. WATCH VIDEO
(Univeristy of Botswana) The University of Botswana took its research programme to loftier heights when it launched an experimental vehicle that uses biodiesel fuel on November 14, 2016. The vehicle uses blended fuel (B10) which is 90 per cent petroleum
by Lina Jang (The Korea Bizwire) Pukyong National University announced Wednesday that graduate student Seonwoo In-young (26), recently succeeded in producing bioethanol using dead seaweed that washed ashore after a tropical storm. Seaweed plays an essential role as a food source,
(Planet Forward) Tell an inspiring story to move the Planet Forward. Enter to win our Storyfest Award Grand Prize: A storytelling expedition to the Amazon rainforest with the 'Godfather of Biodiversity'! In every corner of the planet, amazing people are working hard to
by Kari Lydersen (Midwest Energy News) ... The prospects for cellulosic ethanol becoming a commercially available clean transportation fuel could also hinge on yeast’s ability to ferment corn stalks, switchgrass, wood chips or other fibrous feed stock. The same strain of
(Phys.Org/Ruhr-Universitaet-Bochum) Researchers have developed a hybrid of a fuel cell and capacitor on a biocatalytic basis. With the aid of enzymatic processes, what's known as a biosupercapacitor efficiently generates and stores energy. The trick: the enzymes are embedded in a
by Anthony King (Horizon Magazine) Hacking trees by adding bacteria to their roots could help scrub contaminated soil clean of chemicals and metals from industrial spillages and fallouts, a process known as gentle remediation. Once the approach is refined, it could
by Tom Abate (Stanford University) Solar energy has the potential to provide abundant power, but only if scientists solve two key issues: storing the energy for use at all hours, particularly at night, and making the technology more cost effective.
by Beth Miller (Phys.Org) A computer scientist at Washington University in St. Louis has developed a way to coax cells to do natural things under unnatural circumstances, which could be useful for stem cell research, gene therapy and biofuel production. Michael
(Goethe University Frankfurt/EurekAlert!) Goethe University Frankfurt coordinates European two million Euro project -- Microbes are already used on a wide scale for the production of fuels and base chemicals, but for this most of them have to be "fed"
(Bioenergy Insight) The Ahmadu Bello University (ABU) in Zaria, Nigeria, has entered into an agreement with Hungarian Agrar-Biothanol to produce fertiliser and ethanol in addition to electricity. The facility will produce 1,333 tonnes of liquid organic fertiliser and 2.66 million litres
(European Commission) ... Used cooking oils (UCOs) are processed from food industry and catering waste; cheap and widely available, they are playing an increasing role in the development of advanced biofuels. However, although the legislative framework is in place,
(nova-Institute) Its concept is to combine chemical and enzymatic catalysis with insects-based biological conversion via termites, within a biorefinery integrated approach. The project is conceived to avoid waste production by recycling waste bio-based products and improve the sustainability of existing
by Meghan Sapp (Biofuels Digest) In the Netherlands, saving up excess solar and wind energy for times when the sun is down or the air is still requires a storage device. Batteries get the most attention as a promising solution
by Evelyn Boswell (Montana State University) A regional interdisciplinary team led by Montana State University has received $6 million to develop new innovations at the intersection of food, energy and water systems while training the next generation of scientists. The four-year
by Apornrath Phoonphongphiphat ( Bangkok Post) A Thai research team has successfully produced ethanol from water hyacinth. Now it needs to find the technology to turn the result into a viable business -- A Thai researcher has succeeded in producing
by John Upton (Climate Central) It may have seemed apparent to members of Congress a decade ago that if a motorist pumped a gallon of fuel made from corn into their gas tank, a gallon of fossil fuel would be
by Jeremy Cox (DelmarvaNow) ... The beet plants bred by his (Frank Turano's) company, meanwhile, appear to be largely free of disease. And they're producing tubers up to twice the size of the commercial varieties growing in the same rows. Turano, the
(Biofuels International) A joint investment between UK’s BBSRC and the São Paulo Research Foundation (FAPESP) in Brazil has been made to support collaborations between UK and Brazilian scientists in advanced biofuels research. The funding – £3.5 million (€3.9m) from BBSRC with
(Biofuels International) Scientists at Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale De Lausanne (EPFL) in Switzerland have turned lignin into a source of biofuel by simply adding a common chemical. The patent-pending method that converts up to 80% of lignin into valuable molecules for biofuel
(Solution Generation) Solution Generation, in collaboration with the American Association of Community Colleges (AACC), will honor one AACC member college with a $10,000 award for its excellence in climate leadership. Solution Generation will reward the institution that demonstrates a clear commitment
(Phys.Org) The potential for at least partly replacing oil with cellulose as a renewable source of energy and materials has just improved. While abundant in nature, cellulose is difficult and expensive to find in pure or high-quality form. Now, however,
(Algae Industry Magazine) Since hydrogen fuel cells produce electricity, we are increasingly thinking about hydrogen as a successor to crude oil. But where will the hydrogen come from? Its ecologically cleanest source could be from algae bioreactors, partly thanks to
(Ames Laboratory) A team of scientists at the U.S. Department of Energy’s Ames Laboratory will be developing new instrumentation aimed at determining the chemical and structural makeup of plant cell walls to better understand how to convert plant material into
by David Schwartz (Algae Industry Magazine) Dr. Tom Dempster works as a research professor – focusing on strain selection and development, biomass production, algal biofuels and high-value products, and air and wastewater bioremediation – at the Arizona Center for Algae
by Mark E. Griffin (University of Wisconsin-Madison) Scientists at the University of Wisconsin–Madison and the Great Lakes Bioenergy Research Center (GLBRC) have found a way to nearly double the efficiency with which a commonly used industrial yeast strain converts plant sugars
(Energy and Environment Research Center) Red Trail Energy, LLC, and the EERC take a closer look at the expansion of ethanol production through carbon capture and storage. READ MORE
(North Carolina Biotechnology Center) The North Carolina Biotechnology Center, aided by a $1.87 million federal grant, has embarked on a three-year project to study the production of sorghum as biomass for fuel and high-value chemicals in the Mid-Atlantic region. The project,
by Taylor Kubota (Stanford News) Two Stanford faculty are part of an interdisciplinary team of researchers who will share a $24 million Science and Technology Center grant from the National Science Foundation (NSF). The grant will found a bioengineering research and
(University of Colorado Boulder) CU Boulder engineers have developed an innovative bio-manufacturing process that uses a biological organism cultivated in brewery wastewater to create the carbon-based materials needed to make energy storage cells. This unique pairing of breweries and batteries could
(PR & D - Public Relations for Research & Education/Biomass Magazine) The use of biochar in agriculture improves soil fertility, especially in tropical regions, and mitigates greenhouse gas emissions. A project funded by the Austrian Science Fund FWF studied the
by Scott Irwin (Farm Doc Daily/University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign) RINs prices have been making headlines in recent months, with prices at times crossing the psychologically important $1 per gallon mark. Echoing earlier complaints (farmdoc daily, July 19, 2013; December
(Detroit Public TV) Innovative efforts to develop renewable cellulosic ethanol processes. High school student Tavis Reed and DuPont's innovative efforts to develop renewable cellulosic ethanol processes. WATCH VIDEO
(Keene State College) Keene State College announces that it is the first, and currently only, college or university in the United States to heat a college campus with 100 percent purified waste vegetable oil. The announcement comes during Campus Sustainability
by Brad Rich (Coastal Review Online) As the U.S. and other countries have ramped up development of bio-energy as an alternative to fossil fuels, demand is rising for trees for wood pellets, or biomass, and agricultural products for liquefied biofuels. A recent multi-year
by Beth Miller (University of Delaware) Mixotrophy twist leads researchers to higher yields, lower emissions -- You don't have to be a beer lover to understand the chemistry behind new research emerging from two labs at the University of Delaware
by Joanne Ivancic* (Advanced Biofuels USA) The purpose of Ag Field Days, education, goes both ways. Those doing demonstrations and exhibits often learn just as much from those attending the events. [caption id="attachment_77505" align="alignleft" width="263"] Bob Kozak (right) talks about small
(Algae Biomass Organization) The Department of Energy’s Bioenergy Technologies Office (BETO) has shown a commitment to algae and its future by funding a project to expand education in the algae industry. More specifically, BETO is funding the Algae Technology Education
(IEA Task 42) Task42 supported the 1st International Bio-Based Economy Student SymbioSUM in Wageningen, the Netherlands, 29-31 August 2016. In this SymbioSUM – organised by students for students – the attendees were involved in an active three day programme, consisting
by Tina Hilding (Washington State University) Washington State University researchers have developed a way to practically separate lignin from wood, a breakthrough that could provide new sources of lignin for advanced renewable fuel and advanced materials applications. The work is featured
(University of Tennessee) A UT-ORNL team led by Governor’s Chair Jeremy Smith is using supercomputing to figure out ways to ease the path of turning vegetation into biofuel. A huge barrier in converting plant polymers to biofuel lies in removing other biomass polymers that
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) You may recall that The Bloomberg investigative team of Ben Elgin & Peter Waldman in 2013 published an expose on Chevron claiming that the company had developed — then buried — a Catchlight Energy project
by Steven Cohen (Huffington Post/Columbia University’s Earth Institute) ... Even though we can provide information and interact via phone, web and video, there is no substitute for humans sitting together and breaking bread. What can we do about
(Univesity of Adelaide) University of Adelaide researchers have made a breakthrough in investigating salt tolerance in plants which could lead to new salt tolerant varieties of crops, and also answer unresolved questions in plant biology. The researchers, also from the ARC
by Theo Kumah (Biofuels Digest) Researchers from the Technion-Israel Institute of Technology came up with what could pose as one of the most interesting discoveries from plants. The researchers came up with a bio-photo-electro-chemical (BPEC) cell that can produce hydrogen,
(Australian National University) Scientists are a step closer to using Australia's iconic gum trees to develop low-carbon renewable jet and missile fuel. Dr Carsten Kulheim from The Australian National University (ANU), a lead researcher in an international study published in Trends
by Louisa Kellie (Phys.Org) Chemists at The University of Texas at Arlington have been the first to demonstrate that an organic semiconductor polymer called polyaniline is a promising photocathode material for the conversion of carbon dioxide into alcohol fuels without
(R&D Magazine) Our understanding of the global carbon cycle has been reshaped by KAUST researchers who have helped to reveal a major role for the abundance of seaweed growing around the world's coasts. Some years ago, Carlos Duarte, now director of
(Biorenewables Development Centre) Wilson Bio-Chemical1 have opened their Micro Autoclave Fibre Production Plant for turning municipal solid waste (MSW) into biomass fibre that can be converted into a range of useful products. The facility has been developed with the help
by Todd Karli (WBOC) ... A group of students and scientists are exploring the idea that sugar beets, what they're calling energy beets, can be converted into jet fuel, with the Navy keeping a watchful eye. "This is so exciting because it
by Aerin Einstein-Curtis (Feed Navigator) An industrial sweet potato variety offers promise as a feed ingredient and better nutrition than conventional strains. -- ... Researchers with the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences compared three cultivars of sweet
by Danilo Gusmão de Quadros* and Joanne Ivancic** (Advanced Biofuels USA) After Dan Quadros' oft-repeated criticism about biofuels education and the big gap between research and the job market, he was pleased to experience the best example of how to bring
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Amidst the discussion this week of the future of first-gen and advanced biofuels, and the launch of Hot 40 and Hot 50 voting — we were intrigued by this slide deck on advances in poplar production and
by Marc J. Rauch (The Auto Channel) ... Tobacco advertising that promoted doctor-endorsements appeared in all consumer media as well as leading medical publications like "The New England Journal of Medicine" and "The Journal of the American Medical Association." According to Robert K.
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Amidst the discussion this week of the future of first-gen and advanced biofuels in the EU — we were intrigued by this slide deck on advances in biomass production for the bioeconomy. In the end, it’s
(Jerusalem Post) Tel Aviv University researchers have transformed humble pond slime into an engine for clean fuel. ... Dr. Iftach Yacoby and his team at Tel Aviv University genetically altered single-celled algae, which naturally emit hydrogen throughout the day, allowing
(Phys.Org) ...Photosynthesis in plants and algae consists of two reactions, the light-reactions absorb light energy from the sun and use this to split water (H2O) into electrons, protons and oxygen and the dark-reactions which use the electrons and protons from
(AUSBIOTECH/Ag Funder News) ... Plant oils offer great potential to provide much-needed renewable replacements for petroleum-derived fuels and chemicals, due to their natural abundance. To harness this potential, plant oils must be engineered to ensure their structure is appropriate, and that
(Alliance BioEnergy Plus, Inc.) Alliance BioEnergy Plus, Inc. (OTCQB:ALLM) (the "Company"), is very pleased to release the results from months of testing and data collection on dozens of lignocellulose feedstocks utilizing the patented CTS conversion process. Corn stover, sugar cane bagasse,
by Steffen Mueller (University of Illinois at Chicago Energy Resources Center) ... The authors essentially challenge the accuracy of traditional life cycle analysis with their new model. ... The authors argue that “for a biofuel to provide a net reduction in CO2 emissions, the production
(Prothom-Alo) Bangladeshi computer scientist has been awarded in the United States for developing software and theoretical underpinning needed to help convert algae into biofuel. Md Tamjidul Hoque, an assistant professor of the computer science department at the University of New
by Marie-Joe Costantine (BioFuelNet) Study stating “ biofuels are worse than gasoline” is fundamentally flawed -- ... In the study, when (John) DeCicco and colleagues calculate the CO2 emissions going into the atmosphere, they consider all parts of the plant: leaves, stalks,
For Immediate Release, September 7, 2016: Frederick, Maryland -- The U.S. Department of Agriculture has provided $16,893 to Advanced Biofuels USA, a Maryland based 501(c) 3 nonprofit educational organization, for a feasibility study of producing bio-jetfuel from energy beets grown
(Illinois State University) Illinois State Associate Professor of Genetics John Sedbrook is collaborating on a $1 million grant awarded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to develop genetic resources that can be used to rapidly domesticate field pennycress as
(Emirates News Agency/Zawya) A team of researchers from the Masdar Institute of Science and Technology, in collaboration with Tadweer - Abu Dhabi’s Centre of Waste Management, are testing an integrated chemical reactor they have designed to produce high-quality biodiesel from
(U.S. Department of Agriculture) NIFA 's Bioeconomy-Bioenergy-Bioproduct portfolio facilitates the development of sustainable regional production systems for biofuels and bio-based products through research, product development and demonstration, extension, and education. By creating non-carbon based fuels, power sources, chemicals, and other products,
(Flinders University) Enzymes, described as the ‘engine rooms’ of the natural world, can now work up to 16 times faster thanks to ‘paradigm shifting’ technology developed between Flinders and University of California Irvine. The latest breakthrough adds to a suite of
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) This month in Finland, a team of intrepid researchers herded one thousand European cows one-by-one into a glass “metabolic chamber” to measure their methane emissions, digestion, production characteristics, energy-efficiency, metabolism, and the microbial make-up of
by Jenny M Kniss (Greenspeed Research) To showcase the viability of renewable energy, non-profit group Greenspeed Research (GsR), reached 209 mph with a truck powered by vegetable oil at the Bonneville Salt Flats this August. Their new world record reached
by David Dittman (Wall Street Daily) ... ClimateWire recently reported that scientists have engineered a bacterium that can turn carbon dioxide (CO2) into fuel in a single, enzyme-catalyzed metabolic step. Summarizing a paper published on August 22, 2016, in the journal Proceedings of
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) In California, the Mineta National Transit Research Consortium at San José State University released a study on the generation of various pollutants during low-temperature combustion (LTC) of several types of biodiesel in comparison to ultra-low sulfur
by Robert Mills (Iowa State University) A team of researchers from Iowa State University’s Bioeconomy Institute is investigating a new technology for converting biomass into biofuels and chemicals. With a $371,000, one-year grant from the U.S. Dept. of Energy’s Advanced
(Sputnik News) It might sound like science fiction but it’s not! Employees of Parana Technological University in Brazil designed a vehicle prototype that can cover a distance of more than 300 kilometers with just one liter of ethanol. The use
by David Schenker (Greenspeed Research) Yes, we have been quiet lately. We’ve been able to work twice as hard now that Dave and Patrick are both graduated. We have been heads down and focused. [caption id="attachment_76166" align="alignleft" width="300"] Greenspeed Team and
by Mark Schipper (DNA info) Loyola University has the only college-level chemical manufacturing business in the country that is federally licensed to produce and sell biodiesel on the open market. ... Loyola’s warehouse-like refining facility, accessed through a loading ramp off an alley
(Algae Industry Magazine) In Australia, the New South Wales Deep Green Biotech Hub (DGBH) has been launched as an enabling incubator environment to foster the development of algae as a cost effective and sustainable resource. The incubator will facilitate a
(SEED Center)As part of a national effort to support sustainability practices, programs and training at the nation’s more than 1,100 community colleges, the American Association of Community Colleges (AACC) awards cash prizes to exemplary community colleges for their sustainability education initiatives through their
by Sara LaJeunesse (Penn State News) On July 20, Gov. Tom Wolf signed a law allowing the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture and institutions of higher education to grow hemp (Cannabis sativa L.) for research purposes. Penn State's College of Agricultural
(ABC Andalusia (Google Translation)) The element is used to make bricks glycerin, a fatty organic byproduct production companies -- Researchers of the group ' Advanced Materials ' Institute of Materials Science of Seville (ICMS-CSIC) and the University of Jaen in
(Bioenergy Insight) A new renewable energy research centre, called VILLUM Center for the Science of Sustainable Fuels and Chemicals, has opened in Copenhagen, Denmark. The new centre at Technical University of Denmark (DTU) will be headed by Professor Ib Chorkendorff who
by Erika Ebsworth-Goold (The Washington University) ... Now, a team from the School of Engineering & Applied Science at Washington University in St. Louis has developed a way to make the production of certain biofuels in E. coli much more efficient.
(Newswise/University of Florida) As some Florida growers try to find new crops and the demand for biofuel stock increases globally, University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences researchers have found that sweet potato vines, usually thrown out during
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