In Nebraska, a study conducted by the National Academy of Sciences indicates that the Renewable Fuels Standard may never spark a commercial cellulosic ethanol industry. Regarding the study, Wallace E. Tyner says that “it would take a build rate two to three times corn ethanol to reach the cellulosic ethanol RFS target. It is simply […]
In the UK, a team of international experts, has described the detailed structure of cellulose fibres in wood. Decade old research outlined the structure of crystalline cellulose. The new research focused on disordered cellulose. University of Nottingham biophysicist, Dr Anwesha Fernandes states, “Our experiments with spruce wood cellulose showed that although the cellulose fibres were […]
In Georgia, researchers at the University of Georgia have developed a “super strain” of yeast that can efficiently ferment ethanol from pretreated pine-one of the most common species of trees in Georgia and the U.S. Their research could help biofuels replace gasoline as a transportation fuel. Their research, published online in Biotechnology for Biofuels, shows […]
In Texas, Southwest Research Institute launched the International Alternative Fuel Technology Center (IAFTC), drawing from a variety of disciplines at the Institute to offer all alternative fuels capabilities under one umbrella, to provide original equipment manufacturers and fuel suppliers a comprehensive approach to resolve their technical challenges. SwRI laboratories are outfitted with state-of-the-art instrumentation and […]
In the UK, research from the University of Leicester on behalf of the International Council on Clean Transportation says that palm oil produced in peatland areas generates 86 tonnes of carbon dioxide per hectare per year over a 50-year period, nearly double the previous estimate of 50 tonnes but as the EU’s renewable energy directive […]
In Iowa, researchers at Iowa State University have developed a method to increase the rate of biomass production in algae by 50 to 80 percent. The breakthrough comes from expressing certain genes in algae that increase the amount of photosynthesis in the plant, which leads to more biomass. In environments that have relatively low levels […]
In California, a DOE laboratory has developed a method of introducing a corn gene into switchgrass that would boost its yield as a feedstock. The gene, which prevents the switchgrass from advancing to the adult phase, would double the amount of starch in the switchgrass cell walls, resulting in a higher return from the conversion […]
In California, Energy Biosciences Institute, researchers have found a gene they named AXY4, in a model plant that exhibits a 20-45% reduction in xyloglucan O-acetylation. This chemical can inhibits a microbe’s ability to ferment sugars. The researchers found that blocking the expression of AXY4 in their model plant eliminated xyloglucan O-acetylation. For every 20% drop […]
In Sweden, researchers at the University of Gothenburg have shown that calculating the carbon lifecycle of biofuels is much more complex than previously thought, with between two and 100 years required for a feedstock to become carbon neutral depending on a variety of factors. Therefore policy should be based upon feedstock whose carbon neutrality can […]
In California, researchers at Stanford University have discovered that under the right conditions, E. coli can act as a super charged catalytic converter to turn sugars into diesel-type fuels. Though it’s not yet clear how to ensure the right conditions in all cases, the research funded by LS9 discovered that, they’ve found out that when […]
