In Germany, Technical University of Munich researchers developed an alternative to traditional insecticides that endanger bees, other beneficial insects, waterways, and soil. The new biodegradable agent keeps pests at bay without poisoning them by using cembratrienol, which is found in tobacco plant leaves. The molecule helps the plant protect itself from pests and acts as […]
In Colorado, if there’s an easier, more efficient method, science will find a way. That’s certainly the case in producing cellulosic biofuels, which, at least for now, requires a two-step process to free the sugars trapped in plant matter and convert them into something else. Scientists at the U.S. Department of Energy’s National Renewable Energy […]
In Florida, University of Florida scientists wondered how cheaply fuel ethanol can be made from inedible plant material—called biomass—using currently available technology. Their goal is to make this form of ethanol less expensively than gasoline and help reduce greenhouse-gas emissions. But a UF bio-refinery pilot plant in Perry, Florida, uses crushed sugarcane and sweet sorghum […]
In Sweden, the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU) has signed a strategic partnership agreement with Stora Enso. Through the agreement SLU and Stora Enso intend to establish a long-term collaboration in research and development, education, competence building, and innovation within the fields of forestry and bio-based materials. The main objective of the collaboration is […]
In California, a closed-loop biorefinery could dramatically lower the cost of biofuels and related products. In this approach, the refinery produces the solvents it needs, rather than “importing” them. Scientists at the Joint BioEnergy Institute are developing a closed-loop biorefinery concept that uses waste lignin as a potential process solvent. How? They synthesized a new […]
In Idaho, University of Idaho College of Natural Resources (CNR) Assistant Professor Tara Hudiburg was awarded $750,000 to study the sustainability of biofuels. The grant, award by the Department of Energy (DOE), is part of a $104 million project to create a new generation of sustainable, cost-effective bioproducts and bioenergy. Hudiburg is a co-principal investigator […]
In California, Scientists from the Department of Energy’s Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (Berkeley Lab) have developed a way to use machine learning to dramatically accelerate the design of microbes that produce biofuel. Their computer algorithm starts with abundant data about the proteins and metabolites in a biofuel-producing microbial pathway, but no information about how the […]
In Sweden, EU biofuel regulation does not guarantee a reduced climate impact – nor does it address the core issue of substantially reducing transport emissions, according to a new doctoral thesis from Lund University in Sweden. “On a smaller scale, biofuels can be a good alternative for public transport, but we cannot solve the climate […]
In Thailand, SCG Chemicals entered into memorandum of understanding on R&D collaboration of “CAT-REAC Industrial Project” with the Thailand Research Fund (TRF), Thailand Research Fund and Chulalongkorn University. The MoU was also signed by founding partners from 5 private organizations. The collaboration of government, educational institutions, and private sector will foster knowledge creation to seek […]
In Finland, a researcher has developed a drop-in fuel combining water and ethanol in a catalyst to create a fuel he says has octane of more than 100, claiming to be able to produce it in small-shipping sized containers even from waste. Gas that can be used for heating or cooking as well as water […]
