In Malaysia, researchers from the Universiti Putra Malaysia have developed a methodology to produce biodiesel from algae using nanocatalysts and synthesized through a calcination–hydration–dehydration technique. The nano-CaO catalysis impact was investigated in a two-step transesterification of triglycerides from crude Jatropha oil as a biodiesel along with other reaction parameters such as catalyst ratio, reaction time, […]
In Massachusetts, a new report from Lux Research concluded that “Robotics can be competitive with human labor in some cases already, and falling costs over the next decade will open up more applications.” Lux Research analysts studied automation in agriculture and the developers of robots. Among their findings: • Robots near parity with labor in corn […]
In Australia, a new research partnership between Queensland University of Technology and a US National Laboratory aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and develop new ways of creating bio-energy from plant material. The biotechnology research partnership will bring together leading US and Australian researchers and was formalized when Australia’s QUT (Queensland University of Technology) and […]
In Georgia, researchers within the U.S. Department of Energy’s BioEnergy Science Center engineered the heat-loving microorganisms to produce not only ethanol, but also a range of other alcohols. The ability to produce bioalcohols at temperatures above 70°C (158°F) has advantages over lower temperature processes, including lower risk of microbial contamination, higher diffusion rates, and lower […]
In Washington, the USDA’s Economic Research Service released a new report “Brazil’s Agricultural Land Use and Trade: Effects of Changes in Oil Prices and Ethanol Demand.” In a high-price scenario, the oil price rises 45 percent by 2024. With increasing oil prices, sugarcane area increases by 946,000 hectares during the forecast period, or about 11 […]
In Zimbabwe, technical capacity for biodiesel production from algae has been successfully transferred to Harare Polytecnic and the fuel has passed B100 quality standards. The university is using photoreactors to grow the algae for later processing. Algae is being promoted as a quicker and better alternative to jatropha because it requires only 24 days to […]
In Brazil, researchers led by the Pontifical Catholic University of Rio de Janeiro have determined that soy-based biodiesel is less toxic to lung cells, provoking no damage unlike fossil-based diesel. The tests exposed particles from combustion of fossil diesel, soy biodiesel, soy biodiesel with additives and ethanol to lung cells. Researchers hope that the results […]
In New York state, by engineering a novel enzyme involved in lignin synthesis, Brookhaven National Laboratory scientists have altered the lignin in plant cell walls in a way that increases access to biofuel building blocks without inhibiting plant growth. Lignin is a natural component of plant cell walls, the scaffolding that surrounds each cell and […]
In Washington state, an ARS researcher led a team looking at the current state of knowledge and highlight gaps in research on biogeochemical processes and ecosystem sustainability related to biomass production. Biomass production systems incrementally remove greater quantities of organic matter, which in turn affects soil organic matter and associated carbon and nutrient storage (and […]
In Washington, members of Congress Chuck Fleischmann (R-TN), Marcy Kaptur (D-OH), Congresswoman, Dupont’s Jan Koninckx and US Assistant Secretary of the Navy Dennis McGinn are among the keynote speakers announced by the US Department of Energy for its annual Bioenergy 2016 meeting, which will be held July 12-14 in Washington. In addition, Bernardo Silva, Executive President, […]
