Category: Research

Sustainable packaging, green legislation, corporate step-up in view for 2013: report

Sustainable packaging, green legislation, corporate step-up in view for 2013: report

January 3, 2013 |

In Tennessee, the Shelton Group issued its biobased and sustainability predictions for 2013. On its list: Corporate Social Responsibility shifts into high gear; Sustainable packaging grows; Water issues pushed further into the light; Increased green legislation, and Improved definitions of sustainability. “There are a lot of buzzwords such as “carbon footprint” and “sustainability,”  said CEO […]

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University at Buffalo helps start-up energy companies grow

University at Buffalo helps start-up energy companies grow

January 2, 2013 |

In New York, the University at Buffalo’s Technology Incubator operated by the Office of Science, Technology Transfer and Economic Outreach welcomed several new tenants including Helios-NRG, a technology development and consulting firm currently developing a step-change algae technology for biofuels and water remediation. Incubator tenants receive support from the university including mentoring, professional networking, seminars […]

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Sweet Sorghum biofuel research at OSU seeks to offer economically viable options

Sweet Sorghum biofuel research at OSU seeks to offer economically viable options

January 1, 2013 |

In Oklahoma, Danielle Bellmer, an associate professor at Oklahoma State University, has received funding from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, United Sorghum Checkoff Program, Oklahoma Bioenergy Center and the South Central Sun Grant Program to develop biofuels from sweet sorghum. Benefits of sweet sorghum include high-energy content, drought resistance and adaptation to multiple climates and […]

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Iran car manufacturer, IKCO, moves towards E5 and E10 compatibility

Iran car manufacturer, IKCO, moves towards E5 and E10 compatibility

December 31, 2012 |

In Iran, car manufacturer, IKCO, and the Bio-energy Research Center of Tarbiat Modares University, are collaborating on research to power all IKCO vehicle models with E5 and E10 ethanol blends. Currently, tests show that IKCO engines TU5, EF7 and XUM are able to run on E5 and E10. In an effort to improve its environmental […]

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Researchers develop new biological concrete for living façades

Researchers develop new biological concrete for living façades

December 30, 2012 |

In Spain, Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya researchers have developed and patented a type of biological concrete that supports the natural, accelerated growth of pigmented organisms. The material, which has been designed for the façades of buildings or other constructions in Mediterranean climates, offers environmental, thermal and aesthetic advantages.  The material consists of a conventional carbonated […]

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Researchers develop new biological concrete for living façades

Researchers develop new biological concrete for living façades

December 27, 2012 |

In Spain, Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya researchers have developed and patented a type of biological concrete that supports the natural, accelerated growth of pigmented organisms. The material, which has been designed for the façades of buildings or other constructions in Mediterranean climates, offers environmental, thermal and aesthetic advantages. The material consists of a conventional carbonated […]

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Tanzanian researchers want to follow Zimbabwe’s lead on small farmers

Tanzanian researchers want to follow Zimbabwe’s lead on small farmers

December 26, 2012 |

In Tanzania, researchers and scientists who have returned recently from a study trip to Zimbabwe are urging the government to include a focus on utilizing small-scale farmers in biofuel production in the policy that is currently under development, like is being done in Zimbabwe, rather than just focusing on international investors.

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NREL teams with chemical company on $7 million R&D project for drop-ins

NREL teams with chemical company on $7 million R&D project for drop-ins

December 25, 2012 |

In Colorado, the National Renewable Energy Laboratory will partner with Johnson Matthey, a global specialty chemicals company, in a five-year, $7 million effort to economically produce drop-in gasoline, diesel and jet fuel from nonfood biomass feedstocks.

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USDA funds economic study into future of Southeastern biofuels industry

USDA funds economic study into future of Southeastern biofuels industry

December 24, 2012 |

In Mississippi, the USDA is funding research by agricultural economists from Mississippi State University evaluating the effects of risk, incentives and environmental policy on economic sustainability resulting from the development of a Southeastern biofuels industry.

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JBEI discovers enzyme to boost sugar in plant cell walls

JBEI discovers enzyme to boost sugar in plant cell walls

December 24, 2012 |

In California, an enzyme to boost the amount of galactic (a polymer of galactose, a 6-carbon sugar that can be fermented into ethanol) in plant cell walls has been discovered by the Department of Energy’s Joint BioEnergy Institute (JBEI). This discovery will help to make advanced biofuels cost-competitive by maximizing the amount of plant cell […]

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