In the UK, some biodegradable plastics could in the future be made using sugar and carbon dioxide, replacing unsustainable plastics made from crude oil, following research by scientists from the Centre for Sustainable Chemical Technologies (CSCT) at the University of Bath. • Polycarbonate is used to make drinks bottles, lenses for glasses and in scratch-resistant […]
In Minnesota, for University of Minnesota (UMN) researchers, scum is a word packed with profitable promise. Their patented process not only converts the scum to a higher value product (biodiesel) but also reduces environmental pollutants in both landfills and water systems. As a result, 68 percent of dried and filtered scum can be converted to […]
In Minnesota, California waste recovery company Resynergi Inc. is drawing on University of Minnesota expertise and technology to develop and commercially manufacture a biorefining technology that converts both plastic and biomass into oil and gas. Resynergi is combining U of M Professor Roger Ruan’s microwave-based technology to convert biomass such as waste wood or crop […]
In Washington, the U.S. Department of Energy announced approximately $15.8 million for 30 new projects aimed at discovery and development of novel, low-cost materials necessary for hydrogen production and storage and for fuel cells onboard light-duty vehicles. Selected projects will leverage national lab consortia launched under DOE’s Energy Materials Network (EMN) this past year, in support of […]
In Washington, a new analysis by the Renewable Fuels Association, “RFS Impacts: By the Numbers. is highlighting tremendous progress has been made toward its goals of energy security, clean air and boosting local economies. The report highlighted advances in US ethanol production, jobs, corn production, petroleum independence, retaoling of alternatives fuels and emissions. The report […]
In Illinois, a computer-based model developed by researchers at the Australian Institute for Bioengineering and Nanotechnology (AIBN) at the University of Queensland in Australia is now able to predict the optimal conditions for acetogenic carbon fixation, specifically for the species Clostridium autoethanogenum (C. auto), used by gas fermentation company LanzaTech. The results were released in […]
In Texas, researchers at Texas A&M AgriLife Research are interested in how seasons affect how well cattle can digest a type of Bermuda grass, Tifton 85. In a recent study, they found that as seasons progress, the grass becomes harder to digest. However, by supplementing with the dried distillers’ grains, this effect can be minimized. […]
In California, in findings published in the journal Nature Microbiology, researchers from the University of California Santa Barbara and more than 20 co-investigators describe a new complex of enzymes discovered in herbivore gut fungi that may have applications in sustainable fuels and chemicals. The paper is titled “A Parts List for Fungal Cellulosomes Revealed by […]
In Brazil, the International Centre for Renewable Energy (CIBiogas) has inaugurated its multi-feedstock biogas plant that will use 10 tons of food waste, 30 tons of pruned grass and 300,000 liters of sewage per month to produce 4,000 cubic meters of ethanol on a monthly basis. The $661,000 project will run for 20 months to […]
In Washington, The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), in collaboration with the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), announced that up to $9 million in funding will be made available through the Biomass Research and Development Initiative (BRDI) to increase the nation’s energy independence by supporting the development of bioenergy feedstocks, biofuels, and biobased products. The […]
