In Mexico, the seeds of the wild castor oil plant, Ricinus communis, can be converted into biodiesel according to a new study in the International Journal of Oil, Gas and Coal Technology. The Mexican research team shows how the requisite transesterification reaction of oil from the seeds using methanol in the presence of sodium hydroxide […]
In Germany, so far, little is known about how microplastics interact with higher-order terrestrial plants. Recent studies have shown that microplastics are taken up in the roots of agricultural plants such as wheat. As part of a cutting-edge interdisciplinary project by Berlin-based art studio, Studio Austen, the research team from the IGB and the German […]
In Texas, Southwest Research Institute upgraded its test equipment to allow for testing the effects of transporting natural gas and hydrogen blends in the same pipeline. The latest capability will help clients research hydrogen-based solutions to understand if infrastructure for climate-warming greenhouse gases can be transitioned to handle more sustainable resources. “Hydrogen is an excellent […]
In Tennessee, a team of researchers working within the Center for Bioenergy Innovation (CBI) at Oak Ridge National Laboratory has discovered a pathway to encourage a type of lignin formation in plants that could make the processing of crops grown for products such as sustainable jet fuels easier and less costly. The researchers focused on […]
In Canada, University of Toronto spinoff CERT Systems uses water and electricity to turn waste CO2 into ethylene and other carbon-based fuels using an electrocatalyst operating at room temperature and atmospheric pressure. The catalyst is able to break and reform CO2 into larger, valuable molecules with electricity and protons from water. The process allows CERT […]
In South Korea, thanks to the COVID-19 pandemic, millions of single-use face masks are discarded every day, creating a huge surge in plastic pollution. In a recent study, a team of researchers led by Korea University investigated the feasibility and potential environmental benefits of converting discarded surgical masks into burnable fuel via a process called […]
In Texas, Texas A&M AgriLife Research scientists are using artificial intelligence to set a new world record for producing algae as a reliable, economic source for biofuel that can be used as an alternative fuel source for jet aircraft and other transportation needs. The team’s findings were published in January in Nature Communications. Ongoing research […]
In Canada, University of Saskatchewan researcher Dr. Ajay Dalai is working with Calgary-based industry, Tidewater Renewables, to develop a novel integrated process to produce renewable natural gas from the biomass. Dalai is developing a novel integrated process that uses both biochemical (anerobic digestion) and thermochemical (gasification) methods to produce RNG. With Saskatchewan’s north home to […]
In Japan, the mechanism of plant defense mediated by the non-expressor of pathogenesis-related (NPR) genes in monocots (plants having a single embryonic leaf) is not well-documented. Now, scientists from Tokyo University of Science have discovered how the NPR family of genes regulate immune responses in the model monocot Brachypodium distachyon. These findings provide a blueprint […]
In Mexico, FreshPlaza reports researchers experimented with adding mango peel, roasted coffee residues, and cooked hibiscus calyces to starch-based bioplastic to test what impacts they would have on color, texture, morphology, water activity, and biodegradability. The mechanical of the performance was enhanced by the addition of the byproducts, doubling the strength of the plastic. Tests […]
