(Planet Forward) Grand Prize: Travel to Alaska with Lindblad Expeditions to report on the impact of climate change --There is no story more gripping than that of our changing planet — and the solutions to sustain it. While problems ranging
by Steve Lundeberg (Oregon State University/TechXplore) Alternative-energy research at Oregon State University is charting a path toward the mass adoption of clean cars powered by direct-ethanol fuel cells. Zhenxing Feng of the OSU College of Engineering helped lead the development of a
by Sommer Brokaw (UPI) Sugar can be transformed into hydrocarbons found in gasoline by feeding glucose to strains of E. coli that don't harm human health, according to a study published Monday in the journal Nature Chemistry. "Making biofuels from renewable resources like glucose
by Elizabeth K. Gardner (Purdue University/Fence Post) Microorganisms can be neighborly — when breaking down complex plant fibers they divide the labor and are able to sustain a diverse community, as each member gets its share of food. Understanding how
(Phys.org) A new electrocatalyst called a-CuTi@Cu converts carbon dioxide (CO2 ) into liquid fuels. As reported by a team of Chinese researchers in the journal Angewandte Chemie, active copper centered on an amorphous copper/titanium alloy produces ethanol, acetone, and n-butanol with high efficiency. Most of
(South Dakota State University) POET, a global leader in the production of bioproducts, South Dakota State University and South Dakota Mines held a groundbreaking ceremony today for the POET Bioproducts Institute at the Research Park at SDSU. The institute will serve
by Sergey Nuzhdin, Kristen Davis, Meredith Brooks, Ann Carpenter, Pierre Wensel, and Cindy Wilcox, (Cluster for Sustainable Seaweed Solutions (CS3)/Biofuels Digest) .. (A) similar marine “Blue Revolution” is the potential key to meet global demand for biofuel, feed, and food security
(Bioenergy Insight) Researchers at the University of Vermont (UVM) have partnered with Casella Waste Systems to test a new food de-packaging system. One-third of food waste in Vermont is still packaged, creating difficulties when it comes to the mandatory diversion of
(Bioenergy Insight) Graz University of Technology (TU Graz) in Austria and start-up Rouge H2 Engineering have produced high-purity hydrogen from biogas directly at a biogas plant. Green hydrogen is seen as a ‘beacon of hope’ in the energy and mobility revolution,
(University of British Columbia Okanagan Campus) The goal of creating a cleaner fuel for aircraft engines is creating a spark at UBC Okanagan. A team of researchers studying the burning rate of nanomaterials in liquid fuels believe they have created a recipe
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) LanzaTech, Northwestern, University of South Florida and Georgia Institute of Technology researchers are working on the engineered reveral of the β-oxidation cycle in clostridia for the synthesis of fuels and chemicals. The objective? To develop clostridia
by Talia Ogliore (The Source) Researchers at Washington University in St. Louis have discovered a new way to train microbes to make a readily usable biofuel. A team of biologists and engineers modified a microbe called Rhodopseudomonas palustris TIE-1 (TIE-1) so that it can
(National Renewable Energy Laboratory) In theory, over 1 billion tons of biomass could be sustainably collected and processed into biofuels by 2030 in the United States, according to U.S. Department of Energy analysis. But turning that theory into practice hinges on improvements
Jill Sakai (Great Lakes Bioenergy Research Center) Breaking down plant material for biofuels processing has always required multiple steps, especially when it comes to dealing with the tough, complex polymer lignin. Current methods use a multi-step pretreatment process that focuses
(Georgia Institute of Technology/Phys.Org) Researchers at the Georgia Institute of Technology have developed a concept that would make Martian rocket fuel, on Mars, that could be used to launch future astronauts back to Earth. The bioproduction process would use three resources native
(Tokyo Tech News) Using photocatalysts to reduce CO2 has received a lot of attention recently. Scientists from Tokyo Tech have developed a new osmium complex that can absorb a full wavelength range of visible light and act as a panchromatic
by Meghan Sapp (Biofuels Digest) In Illinois, the National Corn-to-Ethanol Research Center (NCERC), located in University Park of Southern Illinois University Edwardsville, has been awarded $1.9 million though the Rebuild Illinois Wet Lab Capital program by the Illinois Department of Commerce
by Park Sae-jin (Aju Business Daily) For the first time in the world, researchers from a state-run institute have found a chemoenzymatic technique to convert a material extracted from biomasses into an important eco-friendly precursor for biofuel and bioplastic. The
(Albert-Ludwigs-Universität Freiburg) Researchers find the enzymatic link in the formation of methane from fatty acids by cooperating microorganisms -- Microbial production of methane from organic material is an essential process in the global carbon cycle and an important source of renewable
(Queensland Government) World-leading technology has landed in Mackay, bringing Queensland one step closer to a $1 billion sustainable, export-oriented industrial biotechnology and bioproducts sector. Mercurius has finalised commissioning and is about to commence operations at their pilot plant that will use their
by Ulrik Frøhlke (Haldor Topsoe) • With the demonstration plant, Topsoe will validate its electrified technology for cost-competitive production of sustainable Methanol from biogas as well as other sustainable products. The global annual production of methanol is around 110 million
(Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research) The idea of biodegradable plastics sounds good at first. However, very little is known about how they are degraded in the soil and how this is influenced by climate change. In two recent studies, soil ecologists
by Amanda Morris (Northwestern Now) Method can be implemented based on existing technologies -- Researchers argue that long-range vehicles, including cargo ships, should be powered by solid oxide fuel cells and use onboard carbon dioxide (CO2) capture; Depending on fuel
(CGIAR) The Government of India’s concerted efforts to replace 20% fossil fuels with ethanol blends by 2025 is attracting agricultural entrepreneurs to invest in renewable energy. This week, Mr Lalit Jhawar and Mr Mayank Gupta, two young IIT graduates running a
(LSU College of Engineering/Globe Newswire/Associated Press) Each day, many of the products we use, whether we know it or not, are produced from natural gas or crude oil using carbon- and energy-intensive processes. But what if we could make those same
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) The Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences has awarded the Nobel Prize in Chemistry 2021 for the development of asymmetric organocatalysis to: Benjamin List, Director of the Max-Planck-Institut für Kohlenforschung David W.C. MacMillan, Professor at Princeton University Background on the Award The rapid expansion
(U.S. Department of Agriculture) U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Tom Vilsack announced today an investment of more than $146 million in sustainable agricultural research projects aimed at improving a robust, resilient, climate-smart food and agricultural system. This investment is made under
(ACROFAN) The two organizations celebrated a ribbon cutting at the facility on October 4, 2021 -- Ames-based biofuels producer, Renewable Energy Group, Inc. (REG) (NASDAQ: REGI), joined Iowa State University (ISU) at the BioCentury Research Farm (BCRF) for a ribbon cutting
by Lori Friedman (Lehigh University) ... "... One is to take it to a landfill, another is burning it to produce electricity, and another is utilizing it as a feedstock for producing biofuels and bioproducts. However, the nature of MSW, a
by Ambika Sharma (The Tribune) Scientists at Dr YS Parmar University of Horticulture and Forestry in Nauni have devised a method to convert pine needles into enthanol, a green biofuel. -- Pine needles will no longer be a source of forest
(NH Business Review) Department of Energy awards $1.2 million to study cellulosic biofuel production -- A newly awarded $1.2 million, three-year grant from the U.S. Department of Energy will help fund the research of Dartmouth engineering professor Daniel Olson, who is
(Science Daily/Lancaster University) The renewable proportion of petrol is set to increase to 20 per cent over the coming years, meaning the discovery of a new production pathway for these additives could help in the fight to cut carbon dioxide
by Robert Kozak (Atlantic Biomass/Advanced Biofuels USA) This is a presentation that was part of a seminar program at Hood College for the students, faculty, and friends of their biology department. It focuses on new directions in advanced biofuel research. These
by Daehwan Kim, Chang Geun Yoo, Jurgen Schwarz, Sadanand Dhekney, Robert Kozak, Craig Laufer, Drew Ferrier, Skylar Mackay, Madyson Ashcraft, Richard Williams and Sinyeon Kime (RSC Advances) Hemp wastes (stems and branches), fractionated after hemp flower extraction for the production
(Massachusetts Institute of Technology/Tech Xplore) ... Daniel Cohn, a research scientist at the MIT Energy Initiative, and Leslie Bromberg, a principal research scientist at the MIT Plasma Science and Fusion Center, have been working on a high-efficiency, gasoline-ethanol engine that
by Christine Billau (University of Toledo) The U.S. Department of Energy awarded The University of Toledo a $3.2 million grant to continue advancing technology that speeds up the capture of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere to grow algae, a critical part
by Scarlett Evans (Bio Market Insights) ... Finding technologies to curb our carbon is essential, and attention is turning to projects that make carbon cutting a priority. One such project is that of Swinburne University of Technology’s Associate professor Tianyi Ma, who
by Mark Bustos (The Science Times) A form of biofuel found in hazelnut shells can be a new renewable energy source - using various thermochemical processes to extract oils from the waste material. Researchers from the Heilongjiang Academy of Agricultural Machinery Sciences
by Scott Lyon (Princeton School of Engineering and Applied Science) Princeton researchers have developed a new way to make fuel from cellulose — Earth’s most abundant organic compound, found in all plant cells — speeding up a notoriously slow chemical process
by Jeremy Henderson (Auburn University) On-going, Auburn-led research into biofuel and biochemical production just got a lot more eyes on it. Supported by a $2 million U.S. Department of Energy award issued in 2018, as well as funding from the
(EurekAlert!/FUNDAÇÃO DE AMPARO À PESQUISA DO ESTADO DE SÃO PAULO) A study revealed the biological process used by Xanthomonas to weaken the defenses of plants and discovered a novel class of enzyme that can be used to obtain advanced sugars
(Colorado State University) Colorado State University scientists are partners in a three-year grant of up to $3.5 million from the Department of Energy, aimed at improving how algae-based biofuels and bioproducts are made. The Department of Energy’s Bioenergy Technologies Office has announced its support
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Bunge, REG and Bayer helped CoverCress raise a total of $22 million including $8 million in Series B in 2021. What does that mean for this low carbon cash cover crop and for growers? What
by Samantha Watters (University of Maryland) Stephanie Lansing will serve as principal investigator, establishing a consortium of scientists and industry partners with the goal of creating renewable resources -- Stephanie Lansing, professor in the Department of Environmental Science and Technology at
(Brookhaven National Laboratory) A team from the U.S. Department of Energy’s Brookhaven National Laboratory (BNL) has bred a plant that produces more oil by manipulating the availability of sugar for oil synthesis. The team, led by BNL’s John Shanklin, achieved these results in using
(Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute) ... Traditional fermentation processes for producing such products rely on microorganisms that emit large quantities of CO2. If researchers could find a way to avoid such emissions and to actually incorporate CO2 into the product, important environmental
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Propane is usually made from oil refining, but it doesn’t have to be! SHV Energy found bacterial species from a marine sediment that are capable of producing propane. Find out how through gene sequencing they
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ... So, a UCLA team has come up with an interesting angle. Why extract the CO2 from the sky if you can extract it from the sea? Goes the theory, if you pull CO2 from the
by Cleitiane da CostaNogueira, Carlos Eduardo de Araújo Padilha, Everaldo Silvino dos Santos (Industrial Crops and Products) Efforts have been made to improve and modify lignocellulosic pretreatments, but this step corresponds to a high cost in second-generation ethanol production. Previous
by Kamalakanta Sahoo, Richard Bergman, Sevda Alanya-Rosenbaum, Hongmei Gu and Shaobo Liang (Sustainability) Climate change, environmental degradation, and limited resources are motivations for sustainable forest management. Forests, the most abundant renewable resource on earth, used to make a wide variety
Join the U.S. Department of Energy Bioenergy Technologies Office on September 16, 2021, at 3 p.m. ET, for a webinar on how Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBNL) is partnering with the University of California, Berkeley (UC Berkeley) to train the
(Bio Market Insights) A team of researchers from Northwestern University, Illinois have developed a novel means of decarbonising the shipping industry, using CO2-capturing solid oxide fuel cells to make vessels carbon neutral – or even carbon negative. These fuel cells
(National Research Council of Science & Technology/Phys.Org) Korean researchers are striving to turn artificial photosynthesis technology into reality to achieve carbon neutrality or accomplish a net carbon emission value of zero. Artificial photosynthesis is a technology that mimics natural photosynthesis by
(U.S. Department of Energy) Nine Research Projects Will Advance Cost-Effective Carbon Capture Technologies -- The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) today announced $24 million in funding for nine research projects to explore and develop new methods of capturing and storing carbon from the air. Direct Air Capture (DAC) is an expanding field in decarbonization and a key facet of the plan to achieving net-zero
(United Sorghum Checkoff Program) The United Sorghum Checkoff Program (USCP), the University of California, Merced, and the University of California Division of Agriculture and Natural Resources today announced a five year partnership to promote drought resilience in sorghum and increase demand
by Raj Shah and Amanda Loo (altenergymag.com/Koehler Instrument Company) Wastes from fields and wastes from processing are the two kinds of agricultural wastes. Field wastes are present after harvesting crops and include stems, leaves, and stalks, and waste after processing
(University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign/Science Daily) Scientists have developed a bioprocess using engineered yeast that completely and efficiently converted plant matter consisting of acetate and xylose into high-value bioproducts. A team of scientists at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign developed a
by Scarlett Evans (Bio Market Insights) ... Now, a team from Colorado State University (CSU) is working to boost algae crop growth to reach industrial levels, with the team being awarded $3.2m from the US Department of Energy (DOE) in support
(K-Petro (Google translation)) Initiated the second phase of development of biodiesel production technology using insect lipids; Contribute to the expansion of biodiesel supply for the realization of 2050 carbon neutrality -- Korea Petroleum Management Service (Chairman Joo-Seok Son) has secured biodiesel production technology
(Science Daily/Kanazawa University) Researchers experimented with different combinations of zwitterionic molecules to produce a solvent that is liquid below 100°C and very effective at breaking down cellulose. This research may lead to much more cost-effective and safe production of biofuels,
by Maria Fernanda Ziegler (Agência FAPESP) Researchers at the State University of Campinas (UNICAMP) in Brazil have found an enzyme from the Amazon fungus Trichoderma harzianum to be capable of breaking down biomass. Fungi of the genus Trichoderma are present
by Virginia Speirs (Auburn University College of Engineering) ... Sushil Adhikari, professor and director of the Center for Bioenergy and Bioproducts, and his team were recently granted nearly $500,000 from the Department of Energy-Fossil Energy to produce hydrogen energy that will
by Leopold Munhende (New Zimbabwe) THE Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe (RBZ) has finally given up on former Governor Gideon Gono’s Jatropha Biodiesel experiment. RBZ governor John Mangudya said in his 2021 Mid-Term Monetary Policy review the project no longer warranted the central
by Glennda Chui (SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory) Their work aims to bridge two approaches to driving the reaction – one powered by heat, the other by electricity – with the goal of discovering more efficient and sustainable ways to convert
(Green Car Congress) A team at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln has investigated the long-term adaptability and economic feasibility of non-flex-fuel vehicles—vehicles designed to use fuel blends containing 85% ethanol (E85) or less—to consume a 30% ethanol (E30) fuel blend. Their results
The NEFI Energy Leaders Program has been created to enhance high-level executive skills in critical topics such as: Leadership - communication, personal influence and encouraging future leaders Strategy - vision, managing and leading change and managing growth Innovation -frameworks for
(North America Climate Smart Agriculture Alliance) Thirty lawmakers from both houses of Congress have written a letter urging House and Senate leadership to support an historic, long-term investment in farmers, ranchers and rural communities as a part of upcoming infrastructure and
(Ohio State News) Computer models estimate fewer environmental impacts than other crops -- A common farm weed could make a “greener” jet fuel with fewer production-related environmental impacts than other biofuels, a new study indicates. Growing the weed, pennycress – often called
by Joanne Ivancic* (Advanced Biofuels USA) For the US agricultural community, having a field day gives farmers and others in the agricultural products value chain the opportunity not only for hands-on learning about new crops and new technologies or about
(U.S. Department of Energy) 11 University- and Industry-Led Projects will Develop Biomass Resources to Convert to Low-Carbon Fuel for Planes and Ships -- The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) today announced nearly $34 million in funding for 11 projects that will
by Ron Kotrba (Biobased Diesel Daily) Muffakham Jah College of Engineering and Technology in Hyderabad, India, announced that the government has granted patent no. 372207, titled, “Process and System for Efficient Biodiesel Production,” July 19. According to the college, the project was
(Autonomous University of Guadalajara (UAG)/Surest Informa (Google Translation)) ... The researcher pointed out that thanks to this line of research and the projects that have derived from it, it has been possible to model chemical processes such as the production of
(Association of Warm Season Grass Producers) I grow switchgrass and miscanthus on mined lands for biofuel and biomass production. The idea of using marginal lands for these crops has been around for a while and I started doing it about
(PBS NewsHour) Plastic pollution is a global threat on our lands and seas. Since World War II, we have created over 9 billion cubic tons of it, yet its recycling remains extremely limited. As part of our "Breakthroughs" series, Miles
(Advanced Biofuels USA) We are seeing a number of articles about bio-based batteries and biodegradable batteries. Wondering if we should be covering this bio-based mobility development. Here are some examples: The biodegradable battery (Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Science and Technology
(New York State Energy Research and Development Authority) The Carbontech Entrepreneurial Fellowship Program will catalyze the establishment of a nation-leading carbontech innovation and commercialization program for entrepreneurial scientists in New York State. This initiative will support a New York based
(Ural Federal University/EurekAlert) Technology is economical, safe, environmentally friendly, and energy-efficient -- Professors at Ural Federal University (UrFU, Russia) Sergey Shcheklein and Aleksey Dubinin have developed a technology for generating energy for an electric car engine using methanol. An article describing
(Vanderbilt University School of Engineering) A new, $1.5 million Department of Energy grant brings together experts from three institutions to parse the metabolism of a blue-green algae that holds great promise for biofuel production. The team, led by Professor of Chemical and
by Emily Scott (Advanced Biofuels and Bioproducts Process Development Unit) ... He (Jason Ryder, an adjunct professor in UC Berkeley’s College of Chemistry) knows we have the tools to solve these problems: biotechnology and bioprocessing — using the power of
(AZO Cleantech) Lee Lynd, the Queneau Distinguished Professor of Engineering at Dartmouth, will be the founding director of the new Advanced Second Generation (A2G) Biofuel Laboratory located at the University of Campinas (Unicamp) in Brazil. The lab's mission is to develop
(Carnegie Science) Carnegie’s Arthur Grossman and Stanford University’s Ellen Yeh were awarded a $900, 000 grant this spring from the university’s public-private partnership Strategic Energy Alliance to research the synthesis of biofuels from a species of green microalgae called Botryococcus braunii. Scientists from
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) To space, what will we take? In space, what will we make? What are the technologies under development to create fuels, foods, materials, health, protection and new science in space, and for space exploration? With
(BBI International) Markham and Rosentrater recognized for their contributions to the U.S. ethanol industry at the 37th annual Fuel Ethanol Workshop, hosted by BBI International -- On July 14th, during the 2021 International Fuel Ethanol Workshop & Expo (FEW) in Des Moines,
by E.M.Manoj (The Hindu) Dr. John Abraham pioneers the production of biodiesel from broiler slaughter waste and dead poultry. A biodiesel technology scaled up at the Kerala Veterinary and Animal Sciences University (KVASU) in Wayanad is getting ready for viable commercial
by Helena Tavares Kennedy (Biofuels Digest) In South Korea, scientists from the Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology proposed a reaction for the highly selective production of 1-butanol, a valuable alternative fuel, by electrochemical reduction using copper phosphide electrodes. Their findings offer
(University of Canterbury) University of Canterbury engineering researchers are developing a carbon-neutral – even carbon-negative – way to create clean ‘green’ hydrogen to power our world more sustainably. -- University of Canterbury Chemical and Process Engineering academics Professor Shusheng Pang and Associate Professor Alex
by Nikk Ogasa (Science News) The process could tap underused sources of renewable fuels -- ... But by tweaking a gene in common baker’s yeast, researchers have engineered a strain that can defuse those deadly by-products and get on with the
(University of Illinois/EurekAlert!) Bioenergy from crops is a sustainable alternative to fossil fuels. New crops such as energycane can produce several times more fuel per acre than soybeans. Yet, challenges remain in processing the crops to extract fuel efficiently. Four new studies
(Bio Market Insights) ... recently, bamboo has caught their eye, as evidenced in a study made in Indonesia which we discuss, as it presents a future in sustainable energy. Bamboo is one of the most productive and fastest growing plants on the
(Bio Market Insights) ... Finding a way to increase crop yields without encroaching on either food crops or natural habitats is a novel challenge, but it is one that may soon have a solution. Researchers from Queensland University of Technology’s Centre
by Nicoletta Lanese (Live Science) Microbes fished from the stomachs of cows can gobble up certain kinds of plastic, including the polyethylene terephthalate (PET) used in soda bottles, food packaging and synthetic fabrics. Scientists uncovered these microbes in liquid that was drawn
by Valentina Bisinella, Tore Hulgaard, Christian Riber, Anders Damgaard, and Thomas H. Christensen (Waste Management) - Carbon capture and storage (CCS) can amend existing waste incineration technologies. -CCS reduces the energy recovered depending on the incineration technology amended. -CCS reduces climate change impacts
(American Institute of Physics/Phys.Org) For more than 60 years, algae have been studied as a potential feedstock for biofuel production, but the cellulose in their cell wall makes it hard to access the critical molecules inside and convert them to biogas. In
(AgriLife Today) Agriculture byproducts can help produce eco-friendly, biodegradable plastics -- Bioplastics — biodegradable plastics made from biological substances rather than petroleum — can be created in a more economical and environmentally friendly way from the byproducts of corn stubble,
by Anne Trafton (Massachusetts Institute of Technology/Phys.Org) To try to expand biofuels' potential impact, a team of MIT engineers has now found a way to expand the use of a wider range of nonfood feedstocks to produce such fuels. At the
Over the last four years, CABLE has prepared over 60 students for promising careers in the bioeconomy, both across the U.S. and internationally. Our members form a supportive network as each one of us pursues a more sustainable future through
(U.S. Department of Energy) Today (June 23, 2021), the U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Fossil Energy and Carbon Management (FECM) announced $8 million in federal funding for four projects to develop and test technologies that capture and utilize carbon dioxide
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Lignin 20-30% of plant/wood biomass is the key to a successful biorefinery that would make both biofuels and bioproducts said Mark Thies from Clemson University in this BETO Peer Review slide guide that dives into
(Science Daily/University of Montreal) Millions of liters of primary municipal wastewater can be treated sustainably using fast-growing willow trees while also producing renewable bioenergy and 'green' chemicals, researchers find. -- Every year in Canada, six trillion litres of municipal wastewater are
(University of Delaware) In the quest to reduce carbon emissions into the atmosphere and curb climate change, University of Delaware researchers are turning to an interesting ally: bacteria that consume biomass sugars and CO2. With a $2.7 million grant from the U.S.
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Being in a big state, Texas A&M University has some big goals like overcoming the key challenges for biorefinery cost-effectiveness and sustainability in the BETO MYPP and bring down the biofuel cost to $3/GGE. How
(Purdue University/SciTechDaily) ... The closest process to artificial photosynthesis humans have today is photovoltaic technology, where a solar cell converts the sun’s energy into electricity. That process is famously inefficient, able to capture only about 20% of the sun’s energy. Photosynthesis,
by Lauren Quinn (University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign) ... For corn ethanol, most greenhouse gas emissions can be mapped to the fuel’s production, transportation, and combustion, but a large portion of the greenhouse gas calculation can be traced right back to the
(AZoCleantech) A student from the Institute of Natural Sciences and Mathematics at South Ural State University (SUSU) and the winner of the UMNIK competition is working on a project to produce a fundamentally new catalyst that will help generate affordable biodiesel fuel
(Biofuels International) In a study recently published in Nature Communications, scientists from the Novo Nordisk Foundation Centre for Biosustainability (DTU) and Yale University carried out research into how bacteria commonly found in sugarcane ethanol fermentation affects the industrial process. By closely
Ahmad A. Mannan and Declan G. Bates (Nature Communications) Bacteria can be harnessed to synthesise high-value chemicals. A promising strategy for increasing productivity uses inducible control systems to switch metabolism from growth to chemical synthesis once a large population of
by David Bradley (Inderscience/TechXplore) The search for sustainable energy sources continues apace. Research highlighted in the International Journal of Renewable Energy Technology, looks at one such source—algae, from which biodiesel can be derived, The work discusses production issues, characterisation, and compares
(RUDN University/EurekAlert) RUDN University chemists proposed a new way to synthesize catalysts for the conversion of ethyl alcohol. The obtained materials are promising catalysts for the selective conversion of ethanol, which is an important stage in the development of an alternative
by Lucca Henrion Henrion, Joe Árvai, Lauren Lutzke and Volker Sick (Green Biz) ... The technology to capture climate-warming carbon dioxide emissions from smokestacks, and even from the air around us, already exists; so too does the technology to use this
Chandan Kundu, Shanthi Priya Samudrala, Mahmud Arman Kibria & Sankar Bhattacharya (Scientific Reports) Lignocellulosic biomass is an attractive renewable resource to produce biofuel or platform chemicals. Efficient and cost-effective conversion systems of lignocellulosic biomass depend on their appropriate pretreatment processes.
by Diana Kenney (University of Chicago Marine Biological Laboratory) A team of researchers led by Loretta Roberson, associate scientist at the Marine Biological Laboratory, Woods Hole, has installed the first seaweed farm in Puerto Rico and U.S. tropical waters. The research array
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Biofuel blendstocks is what it’s all about for Dimitris Assanis from SUNY and Ofei Mante from RTI International. Check out their BETO presentation on bioblendstock oils rich in naphthenes produced using catalytic fast pyrolysis and
(Ruhr University in Bochum) An enzyme could make a dream of the energy industry come true: it can efficiently generate hydrogen from electricity as well as convert hydrogen into electricity. Both fuel cells, which convert hydrogen into electricity, and electrolysers, which
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Perennial grass miscanthus as an energy crop has advanced into high biomass yielding varieties and NC State University is working with Novozymes, Iogen and Oak Ridge National Lab on evaluating new miscanthus varieties and improving
by Robert Lea (AZO CleanTech) New research suggests that a carbon-neutral biofuel could be created from methane extracted from lakes. -- ... A team of environmental scientists from the University of Basel, Switzerland, suggest that methane stored in lakes could
by Jennifer Huber (Stanford University/SLAC) Derived from microscopic algae, the rare, light-driven enzyme converts fatty acids into starting ingredients for solvents and fuels. -- Although many organisms capture and respond to sunlight, it’s rare to find enzymes – proteins that promote
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Everyone wants to reduce the price of biofuels – and a team from Texas A&M, USDA, AgriLife Research, Mississippi State University and others are working on improving the economics and environmental sustainability of biomass sorghum
(New Zealand Ministry For Primary Industries/Business Scoop) Te Uru Rākau – New Zealand Forest Service is laying the foundations for a new biofuels industry, to turn forestry waste into a potential billion-dollar industry, and working on a business case with help
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Bioenergy switchgrass feedstock – can it be the next-generation feedstock we’ve been looking for in the Midwest? University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign is looking at perennial bioenergy feedstock production on marginal croplands across geographic locations in
(Knoxville Entrepreneur Center) The Knoxville Entrepreneur Center, AgLaunch, Sync Space and The Biz Foundry are partnering to offer a 3-week virtual bootcamp to develop promising agtech startups. Applicants should be innovators who are interested in growing their agricultural startups and working directly with farmers or
by Nate Perez (Caspar Star Tribune) The Integrated Test Center in Gillette hopes to attract more tenants to study carbon capture. The ITC has hosted Carbon XPRIZE winner UCLA CarbonBuilt and and is now housing Membrane Technology and Research —
(U.S. Department of Energy) The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) today (May 14, 2021) announced $35 million in funding that will help slash carbon emissions and scale up the volume and efficiency of renewable biofuel. The 15 awarded research projects are
(Hiroshima University/Phys.Org) Acetone, a volatile solvent used for everything from removing nail polish and cleaning textiles to manufacturing plastics, could get a sustainability boost from a new strain of bacteria engineered by a research team based in Japan. They published the details
by Bev Betkowski (Troy Media/University of Alberta) University of Alberta research is brewing up better ways to help ethanol producers make the most of plant waste they use to make their fuel. A process developed by researcher David Bressler’s lab in the Faculty of
by Morgan Black (Global News) A made-in-Alberta success story is taking flight after a University of Alberta professor found a way to transform agriculture and forestry waste into jet fuel. Dr. David Bressler is the project lead of FORGE Hydrocarbons. He has studied the
(Kobe University/Phy.Org) A cross-institutional collaboration has developed a technique to repartition carbon resources from carbohydrates to lipids in microalgae. It is hoped that this method can be applied to biofuel production. This discovery was the result of a collaboration between a
(University of York) he discovery of a novel enzyme that releases a valuable chemical from agricultural waste could provide an important breakthrough in the upscaling of renewable fuels and chemicals, a new study shows. ... Researchers – led by the University of York
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Enymatic hydrolysis, thermomechanical pretreatment, bioconversion and other ways to recycle plastic waste can change the way we look at plastics and polymers. Check out this illuminating slide guide from the University of Massachusetts on waste-to-energy,
(EurekAlert!/University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Institute for Sustainability, Energy and Environment) CABBI studies on the Renewable Fuels Standard indicate a need for more targeted policies that value the environmental benefits of perennial bioenergy crops over cheaper options - and provide
(Advantage News) The NCERC at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville is leading the way in converting municipal solid waste to biofuel through two proposals submitted for funding. The NCERC has received funding from a grant proposal that was submitted to SIUE’s Transitional and
U.S. Department of Eneryg/SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory) Although many organisms capture and respond to sunlight, enzymes - proteins that catalyze biochemical reactions - are rarely driven by light. Scientists have identified only three types of natural photoenzymes so far. The newest
(University of California Davis) Report to State Outlines Policy Pathways to Meet the Zero-Carbon Time Crunch -- Transportation is the largest source of greenhouse gas emissions in California. In order to achieve the state’s goals of carbon neutrality by 2045
by Steven D. Allison and Tyrus Miller (University of California, Irvine/The Conversation) ... We worry that overemphasis on science may hamper the design of effective climate solutions. In our view, solving the world’s climate problems will require tapping into brainpower beyond science. That’s
(University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo) A groundbreaking study investigating the growth of selected varieties of sugarcane to convert into high-performance jet fuel is underway at the University of Hawai‘i at Hilo College of Agriculture, Forestry, and Natural Resource Management (CAFNRM). Utilizing advanced technologies
(ChemEurope) EU research project on the potential of agroforestry waste as environmentally friendly raw materials completed -- In future, waste from agriculture and forestry could serve as the basis for environmentally friendly building materials, insulation foams or fuels. Over the past
by Phoebe French (The Drinks Business) The National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM) is using waste products from the wine and cheese industries to produce hydrogen and methane. -- Researchers working in the university’s engineering department in the Mexican state of
(North Carolina State University Campaign News) Professor Sunkyu Park, who has deep NC State roots, is working to turn waste from the pulp and paper industry into the biofuel of the future. Boosted by private support, his research could revolutionize
by Lura Roti (SDPB Radio) Results from a recent University of Nebraska Study could dramatically increase demand for ethanol. This is optimistic news for South Dakota corn farmers, ethanol manufacturers and family farm advocates. Redefining Renewable Fuels was a year-long study conducted by
by Leslie Reed (University of Nebraska–Lincoln/Daugherty Water for Food Global Institute/Nebraska Today) University of Nebraska–Lincoln researchers affiliated with the Daugherty Water for Food Global Institute have received a $3 million grant from the U.S. Department of Energy to better quantify
(American Chemical Society/Phys.Org) ... Once all the flavor has been extracted from barley and other grains, what's left is a protein- and fiber-rich powder that is typically used in cattle feed or put in landfills. Today, scientists report a new
by Chris Mallory (The Counter) Agrivoltaics—putting solar panels on farmland—lead to astonishing productivity gains and improved energy efficiency. Except when they don’t. -- ... Mounted on 9-foot-tall beams, so lofty a tractor could pass below them, the solar panels slant against
(Polytech University of Madrid (Google Translation)) Researchers at the UPM obtain biodiesel from a mixture of low-quality animal fat with soybean oil and, once characterized according to technical regulations, have tested its behavior in a Diesel engine. -- Today, renewable fuels,
(Natural Resources Canada) ... Canada’s Minister of Natural Resources, today announced a $2,890,000 investment in the University of Alberta’s biojet technology. The University of Alberta, along with project partners Alberta Innovates, FORGE Hydrocarbons Inc., Western Economic Diversification Canada, Future Energy Systems, CanmetENERGY Devon and Edmonton International Airport, are also providing
(Earlham Institute) Some grasses are a sustainable energy source that could be a driving force towards achieving net zero carbon emissions, according to new research that demonstrates their resilience to harsh growing environments. -- The Miscanthus genus of grasses, commonly used
Join us for a lively discussion of technologies that remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and the ocean and permanently sequester carbon to slow and reverse the impacts of climate change. Speakers include: XPRIZE Foundation will discuss the new $100
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) From current carbon fiber recycling methods to the way of the future– mild chemical recycling – this slide guide from Washington State University researchers is one you won’t want to miss. Their latest research on
by Laura Thomson interview with Akshat Tanksale (AZO CleanTech) Associate Professor Akshat Tanksale at Monash University speaks to AZoCleantech about his research on how microalgae could have significant benefits when applied to the hydrogen production industry. ... What makes microalgae a suitable
(American Institute of Physics/TechExplore) ... In their paper, published in the Journal of Renewable and Sustainable Energy, Yangzhou University researchers in China show how a combination of monochromatic red and blue LED illumination on one type of microalga can enhance its growth and
(Ruhr University Bochum) CO 2 can be converted electrochemically into raw materials for industry. So far, however, there is a lack of catalysts that are stable over a long period. A few tricks might solve the problem. Researchers at the Ruhr University Bochum and the
by Helena Tavares Kennedy (Biofuels Digest) Four companies developed the first process in the world to produce compostable bioplastic from food and feed production side streams. A biopolymer plant will be built in Uusikaupunki, Finland, in which bioplastic production will be
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