Category: Research

Chinese researchers boost algae photosynthesis by up to 110%

Chinese researchers boost algae photosynthesis by up to 110%

September 1, 2020 |

In China, by using a conjugated polymer, researchers at the Chinese Academy of Sciences were about to increase the speed of photosynthesis in algae which could help to reignite interest in it as a biofuel feedstock. Using a synthetic light-harvesting polymer, researchers used an electrostatic process that forced up to 110% increase in growth. Higher […]

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WIU researchers score DOE grant to strengthen pennycress

WIU researchers score DOE grant to strengthen pennycress

August 31, 2020 |

In Illinois, a second grant has been awarded that dovetails into an initial $12 million grant to study pennycress and helps ensure a consistent version of the alternative crop is produced. WIU will receive just under $1 million of a $13 million U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) grant aimed at genetically strengthening pennycress plants for […]

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Researchers design hydrogen-oxygen biofuel cell based on hydrogenase enzyme

Researchers design hydrogen-oxygen biofuel cell based on hydrogenase enzyme

August 30, 2020 |

In Germany, researchers at Ruhr-University Bochum, University of Utah and the Max Planck Institute for Chemical Energy Conversion developed new techniques with which bacterial enzymes can be efficiently coupled to electrodes and designed a hydrogen-oxygen biofuel cell based on a hydrogenase enzyme. They also implemented a system for ammonia synthesis based on a nitrogenase enzyme. […]

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University of Buffalo researchers part of DOE wastewater/biomass project

University of Buffalo researchers part of DOE wastewater/biomass project

August 27, 2020 |

In New York state, researchers from the University of Buffalo are collaborators on a $2 million project funded by the U.S. Department of Energy that will study the use of algae to purify wastewater while simultaneously producing biomass for fuel production. They will focus on looking at the make-up and function of algae, which the […]

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Etihad Airways and Boeing to run 7th ecoDemonstrator partially on biofuels

Etihad Airways and Boeing to run 7th ecoDemonstrator partially on biofuels

August 26, 2020 |

In the UAE, Etihad Airways and Boeing will work together starting in August on the seventh iteration of the ecoDemonstrator program to test innovative technologies in the air, building on the core innovation and sustainability tenets of their strategic partnership signed in November 2019. The ecoDemonstrator program utilizes commercial aircraft as flying testbeds to accelerate […]

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Colorado State researchers see significant climate benefits from advanced biofuels

Colorado State researchers see significant climate benefits from advanced biofuels

August 25, 2020 |

In Colorado, a new study led by Colorado State University — including an interdisciplinary team of plant scientists, ecologists and engineers — predicted significant climate benefits stemming from the use of advanced biofuel technologies. Accounting for all of the carbon flows in biofuel systems and comparing them to those in grasslands and forests, the team […]

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Tamil Nadu researchers find local marine algae species ideal for biodiesel production

Tamil Nadu researchers find local marine algae species ideal for biodiesel production

August 24, 2020 |

In India, the Press Trust of India reports researchers from the National Institute of Technology in Tiruchirappalli have discovered strains of marine microalgae that are viable for biodiesel production so are developing a roadmap for commercialization. Three species of algae found off the coast of Tamil Nadu were identified as having potential due to their […]

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Green Science Alliance confirms absorption of CO2 with their Metal Organic Framework

Green Science Alliance confirms absorption of CO2 with their Metal Organic Framework

August 23, 2020 |

In Japan, the Green Science Alliance has been synthesizing various type of metal organic frameworks and have been trying to apply MOF to rechargeable battery, fuel cell, water vapor adsorption, gas adsorption, metal adsorption, deodorizing, photocatalysis, artificial photosynthesis etc. and found that certain kinds of MOF have strong CO2 adsorption capability. This time, Mr. Tetsuro […]

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Argonne supercomputers help identify CO2-to-ethanol electrocatalyst

Argonne supercomputers help identify CO2-to-ethanol electrocatalyst

August 20, 2020 |

In Illinois, by supercomputing standards, Argonne National Lab’s Bebop (1.75 terflops, stood up in 2017, bumped off the Top500 list after the June 2019 ranking) and Blues (stood up in 2012, ranked only that year) are somewhat anachronistic, vestiges of an earlier age. But those veteran systems can still take a star turn, as shown […]

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ARS researchers look at presscake from mustard-related plant as biobutanol feedstock

ARS researchers look at presscake from mustard-related plant as biobutanol feedstock

August 19, 2020 |

In Illinois, researchers at the Agricultural Research Service are looking at Lesquerella, a Southwest U.S. native plant from the mustard family, as a potential feedstock for biobutanol. The crop was first identified for its potential due to the high hydroxy fatty acid content in its oil but the challenge was with its presscake that had […]

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