In Iowa, researchers at Iowa State and the DOE Ames Laboratory have published a new model of chemical activity within nanospheres. Nanospheres, tiny spheres of silica with a honeycomb of tunnels, or pores, throughout their structure and embedded with catalytic groups, were developed in the last decade as a solution to finding a reusable catalyst […]
In Florida, Applied Research Associates (ARA) is researching the use of carinata seeds to produce a low-cost, high-grade jet fuel. In partnership with Chevron Lummus Global (CLG), the National Research Council of Canada (NRC), the U.S. Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) and Agrisoma Biosciences Inc., researchers will determine if the feedstock is appropriate for producing […]
In France, a technological research facility and laboratory was opened by The Soufflet Group. It will be dedicated to researching ways to increase the value of agricultural resources and agro-industrial byproducts through sustainable farming. In partnership with the French National Institute for Agricultural Research (OSIRIS), technological institutes and universities, the Soufflet Group has secured $145.3 […]
In Iowa, the Food and Agricultural Policy Research Institute has published a new study indicating that a full waiver of the RFS requirements will only reduce corn prices by 0.5%. The study also concluded that “overall ethanol use and production are projected to be motivated mostly by crop and fuel market conditions in the current […]
In Wisconsin, a team of researchers led by George Huber — who recently moved from the University of Massachusetts-Amherst to the Wisconsin Energy Institute — a UW-Madison professor of chemical and biological engineering, and his collaborators have demonstrated they can use a proton-exchange-membrane fuel cell to convert the model biomass compound acetone into isopropanol, a […]
In New Hampshire, the National Science Foundation has awarded nearly $1 million in grants to University of New Hampshire assistant professor of chemical engineering, Xiaowei Teng. The grants are to support his research on increasing ethanol oxidation fuel cell reaction efficiency. Professor Teng and his team seek to promote ethanol as a viable energy source […]
In Colorado, the Engines and Energy Conversion Laboratory at Colorado State University has secured $18.5 million in private donations to build an expansion. Major donors include the Bohemian Foundation and Woodward Inc. The lab conducts research in several areas, including electric grid improvements, biofuel production and improved cook stoves for developing countries. Former Governor Bill […]
In Switzerland, the Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Science and Technology (EMPA), in conjunction with the Institute Agroscope Reckenholz-Tänikon (ART), and the Paul Scherrer Institute (PSI), updated its 2007 biofuels report in a new study entitled, Harmonisation and extension of the bioenergy inventories and assessment. The study found that biofuels can be sustainable and may […]
In Indiana, Purdue has received a $5.2m grant from the Department of Energy to develop a plant which produces phenyl ethanol instead of lignin, making it possible to convert the plant directly into combustible biofuel. Heading the research team is Clint Chapple, a biochemistry professor at the University. The project aims to be completed within […]
In Colorado, Six student scientists were presented with the first Young Algae Researcher Awards, in Denver, for their contributions to fields of algae biology and engineering. The awards are presented at the world’s largest gathering of algae industry and academic leaders to recognize outstanding research projects by early-career scientists that are finding new ways to use […]
