In China, a study published in Angewandte Chemie International Edition, Prof. Liu Tianfu from Fujian Institute of Research on the Structure of Matter of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and Prof. Wu Xinping from East China University of Science and Technology constructed a metal-organic framework (MOF) with delocalized orbitals and proposed a strategy of direct […]
In the UK, the National Oceanography Centre (NOC) is trialing the use of a fossil-free marine diesel to fuel the Royal Research Ships (RRS) James Cook and Discovery. Use of hydrotreated vegetable oil (HVO), made from used vegetable oils and fats and non-food crops, is able to significantly reduce net CO2 vessel emissions, compared to […]
In South Africa, The Newspaper reported that Professor Emile van Zyl, a microbiologist at Stellenbosch University (SU) sought to gather expertise, drive research outputs, and build human capital to support the growing biofuels industry in South Africa and beyond. According to the report, Van Zyl’s focus shifted toward second-generation biofuels, driven by concerns over food […]
In Japan, achieving carbon neutrality requires the effective use of renewable biomass. In the production of biodiesel, for instance, glycerol is generated as a major byproduct. Researchers at Osaka Metropolitan University have developed a new catalyst that efficiently converts a derivative of glycerol into bio-based propylene, contributing to sustainable chemical production. The newly developed catalyst […]
In China, as the global push for sustainable biofuels intensifies, lignocellulosic biomass has emerged as a prime candidate for biofuels and biochemicals owing to its abundance and renewability. This biomass, derived from plant materials, holds great promise as a feedstock for biofuel production. However, the pretreatment process required to break down lignocellulose often yields toxic […]
In Colorado, barriers that are currently preventing the use of greater percentages of biomass-based diesel fuel blended into petroleum diesel have been identified, along with strategies to overcome them, according to researchers at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL). The bio-derived diesel fuel in use today is blended into petroleum diesel at a relatively low […]
In Brazil, mathematical analysis reveals that within Brazil’s agriculture and livestock industry, the biofuels sector is most heavily reliant on other sectors with high greenhouse gas emissions. Brazil is a world leader in biofuel production, but the environmental sustainability of the sector has faced criticism due to its impacts on deforestation, water use, and biodiversity, […]
In Australia, Rio Tinto said it will develop Pongamia seed farms in Australia as part of a new biofuels pilot. The project will explore the potential of Pongamia seed oil as a feedstock for renewable diesel, the firm said. The pilot aims to determine if Pongamia seed oil can contribute to Rio Tinto’s renewable diesel […]
In Singapore, the 2024 Southeast Asia Climate Outlook Survey, released by the ISEAS-Yusof Ishak Institute, highlights strong regional support for national carbon taxes and rising concerns about climate change and food insecurity. Conducted between July and August, the survey found that 7 in 10 respondents back a carbon tax, with 90% willing to bear the […]
In Florida, Florida State University (FSU) said that a new, biomass-based material developed by FAMU-FSU College of Engineering researchers can be used to repeatedly capture and release carbon dioxide. The material is primarily made from lignin, an organic molecule that is a main component of wood and other plants, and it can take up carbon […]
