In Brazil, following the successful production of renewable diesel from soy oil, Reuters reports Petrobras says it is ready to move to commercial scale production as soon as the ANP green lights sales of the fuel. The company announced earlier this month its intention to reduce the carbon intensity of its fuels by 16% over […]
In India, plastic from used personal protective equipment (PPE) can, and should, be transformed into renewable liquid fuels—according to a new study, published in the peer-reviewed Taylor & Francis journal Biofuels. Experts from The University of Petroleum and Energy Studies have suggested a strategy that could help to mitigate the problem of dumped PPE—currently being […]
In Washington, the Des Moines Register reports the chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee and chairman of the House Subcommittee on the Western Hemisphere, Civilian Security and Trade sent a letter to the US ambassador to Brazil over claims in two Brazilian newspapers that the ambassador has been working to help President Trump win Iowa […]
By David Fournier, Chair for Patent Prosecution and Portfolio Counseling, Perkins Coie LLP Special to The Digest Biocarbons are experiencing significant investment and growth as a drop-in replacement for fossil fuels in energy and metals production. As companies move from found fossil fuels to engineered biofuels, intellectual property rights will invariably have a significant impact […]
Bale analysis, probes, core samples – measuring and analysis of bioenergy feedstocks is key. In this illuminating slide guide from ABLC Digital, the Idaho National Laboratory, Antares Group, ASDI, and B Hames Consulting share how bale probes are a novel sensor for in-field, real-time analysis of bioenergy feedstocks. From developing new tools for analysis of stover […]
In Maryland, researchers at the US Army Research Institute are developing a renewable, self-healing material inspired by squid teeth in the hopes it can be used to design self-repairing robots and uniforms. Squids catch and hold food using tentacles, which can regenerate if lost or damaged. Researchers at Penn State University have already developed soft […]
In Boston, Massachusetts, biological engineering company Conagen has developed a process to produce lactoferrin, an abundant protein in breast milk that acts as an antimicrobial and antiviral agent. Currently, makers of infant formula rely on lactoferrin extracted from cow milk in a costly purification process that simultaneously removes several key nutrients. “The main key drivers […]
In New York, New Age Renewable Energy has been converting dairy waste into hand sanitizers to help combat the COVID-19 pandemic. The company is taking whey acid byproduct from milk production to produce gallon containers, 55-galon drums, and 275-gallon tanks of hand sanitizer, depending on organizational needs. The process was developed over the last few […]
In Ghana, a local entrepreneur is producing bicycles from bamboo to provide an eco-friendlier method of transportation, create local jobs, and help children focus on their education. Bernice Dapaah tells the World Economic Forum that the Ghana Bamboo Bikes Initiative has sold more than 3,000 bikes. For every sale, a bamboo bike is donated to […]
In the Philippines, a natural fiber already used to produce tea bags and Japanese currency could be used to produce biodegradable personal protective equipment for preventing COVID-19 infection. “With this pandemic, if we all buy masks made of synthetic fiber, they will pile up in dumpsites because they take so long to decompose,” Philippine Fibre […]
