Category: Research

Spanish researchers patent method to better dehydrate algae using less energy

Spanish researchers patent method to better dehydrate algae using less energy

January 12, 2015 |

In Spain, researchers at the University of Almeria have developed and patented a method to dewater microalgae and reduce the “soup” they live in by as much as a third without boosting the overall energy consumption in the biodiesel’s production lifecycle. Rather than using a centrifuge to dehydrate the microalgae, the process developed is more […]

Read More

JBEI ready to license 4 new technologies

JBEI ready to license 4 new technologies

January 12, 2015 |

In California, four new technologies are available for license from the researchers at the Joint BioEnergy Institute at the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory. The technologies include: Golgi Nucleotide Sugar Transporters as Tools for Cell Wall Modification, a technology to engineer bioenergy plans and make sugars more easily accessible. Increasing Value of Waste Lignin from Biomass […]

Read More

Ecuadorian researchers looking at Antarctic algae as biodiesel feedstock

Ecuadorian researchers looking at Antarctic algae as biodiesel feedstock

January 8, 2015 |

In Ecuador, researchers at the Central University of Ecuador are studying species of algae found in Antarctic waters with the hope of someday using them to produce biofuels to power the country’s research facility at Greenwich Antarctic Island. The researchers have determined that algae that are stressed and with limited food produce more vegetable oil […]

Read More

Green Star Products contracted to build demo hybrid algae project near Vegas

Green Star Products contracted to build demo hybrid algae project near Vegas

January 7, 2015 |

In Utah, during the fourth quarter of 2014, Green Star Products signed a contract to build a large proprietary demonstration Hybrid Algae Production System (HAPS) facility for a third party to produce commercial quality algae. This contract is very specific for GSPI to build and operate the HAPS system. However, the algae strains to be […]

Read More

Iranian researchers develop new nanocatalyst for biodiesel production

Iranian researchers develop new nanocatalyst for biodiesel production

January 6, 2015 |

In Iran, researchers from Ferdowsi University of Mashhad have developed a solid non-homogenous nanocatalyst of potassium fluoride – gamma alumina for biodiesel production that should bring down production costs compared to typical processes. Soy oil was used as feedstock for the research.

Read More

PNNL researchers determining best environment for cyanobacteria yields

PNNL researchers determining best environment for cyanobacteria yields

January 5, 2015 |

In Washington state, rapidly growing bacteria that live in the ocean and can manufacture their own food hold promise as host organisms for producing chemicals, biofuels and medicine. Researchers at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) and The Pennsylvania State Univ. are closely studying one of these photosynthetic species of fast-growing cyanobacteria using advanced tools developed […]

Read More

UMass Amherst lignin research sheds light on how plants adapt to environmental stress

UMass Amherst lignin research sheds light on how plants adapt to environmental stress

January 5, 2015 |

In Massachusetts, new research may advance our understanding of “how the relative proportions of biopolymers,” like lignin, “are controlled in plant tissue”. The study, led by Sam Hazen at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, was published in Nature on December 24th, and should assist future research that may allow manipulation of the xylem regulatory network […]

Read More

Chinese researchers develop ethanol and lactic acid co-production method

Chinese researchers develop ethanol and lactic acid co-production method

January 1, 2015 |

In China, research published in Biotechnology for Biofuels has shown a new production process that produces ethanol and lactic acid at the same time, which not only reduces the ethanol production cost but also provides a valuable byproduct. Raw poplar wood was the feedstock used in the research.

Read More

University of Arkansas researcher gets grant to study nanotech for biomass crops

University of Arkansas researcher gets grant to study nanotech for biomass crops

December 31, 2014 |

In Arkansas, the Arkansas Science and Technology Authority has approved grant funding for a UALR biology professor who says nanomaterials could increase the germination rate and biomass yield of bioenergy crops. Dr. Mariya Khodakovskaya, associate professor in the UALR Department of Biology, says the establishment of an effective system for the production of bioenergy crops in […]

Read More

Researchers develop better microbial conversion pathway for xylose

Researchers develop better microbial conversion pathway for xylose

December 30, 2014 |

In New York state, a researcher from Hofstra University has led a team that discovered a microbial conversion pathway using Clostridium clariflavum to better degrade xylan to xylooligomers and xylose which also appears to allow higher utilization of unused biomass. The research used switchgrass as feedstock.

Read More