Category: Research

NREL study show most vehicles likely compatible with E10 and E15

NREL study show most vehicles likely compatible with E10 and E15

November 23, 2021 |

In Colorado, a new study conducted by the U.S. Department of Energy’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) is out now that shows all vehicles in the study countries are highly likely to be compatible with E10. Motorcycles and scooters similarly analyzed in India and Indonesia have full compatibility with E10, and many are also compatible […]

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Volkswagen’s Pen Hybrid LabFactory developing biobased car materials of the future

Volkswagen’s Pen Hybrid LabFactory developing biobased car materials of the future

November 22, 2021 |

In Germany, a research association between science and companies, Volkswagen is working on the car materials of the future: Innovations based on cellulose and mushrooms (biological polymers) could soon replace leather and help protect the climate.  Stepping into the “Open Hybrid LabFactory” (OHLF) on the outskirts of Wolfsburg for the first time is a bit […]

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PNNL researchers designing microbe factories for sustainable chemicals

PNNL researchers designing microbe factories for sustainable chemicals

November 20, 2021 |

In Washington, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory researchers have devised a way to engineer yeast to produce itaconic acid—a valuable commodity chemical—using data integration and supercomputing power as a guide, helping advance economically attractive replacements for fossil fuels. Itaconic acid has enormous potential as a renewable chemical building block. It could substitute for some fossil-fuel-derived products. […]

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Japanese researchers study organophosphate sensitivity in sorghum plants

Japanese researchers study organophosphate sensitivity in sorghum plants

November 17, 2021 |

In Japan, sorghum, an underrated ancient grain, is slowly becoming well known as a superfood due to its nutrient-dense and gluten-free nature. Sorghum syrup is widely used as a healthy alternative to molasses in the food industry, and this cereal is also used to make gluten-free flour. In addition, sorghum commonly serves as high-quality animal […]

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Chinese researchers convert CO2 into liquid fuels with new electrocatalyst

Chinese researchers convert CO2 into liquid fuels with new electrocatalyst

November 16, 2021 |

In China, a new electrocatalyst called a-CuTi@Cu converts carbon dioxide (CO2) into liquid fuels. As reported by a team of Chinese researchers in the journal Angewandte Chemie, active copper centered on an amorphous copper/titanium alloy produces ethanol, acetone, and n-butanol with high efficiency. A team from Foshan University (Foshan, Guangdong), the University of Science and […]

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Japanese researchers develop sensor to detect water-soluble polymers in wastewater

Japanese researchers develop sensor to detect water-soluble polymers in wastewater

November 15, 2021 |

In Japan, a peptide sensor to detect water-soluble polymers in wastewater, a major contributor to pollution on par with microplastics, has been developed by scientists from Tokyo Institute of Technology. The new technique takes advantage of the bonding that occurs between peptides and different polymers to train a machine learning algorithm that can identify a […]

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New Berkeley Lab, BETO software tools will speed up biojet fuel development

New Berkeley Lab, BETO software tools will speed up biojet fuel development

November 14, 2021 |

In California, two new publicly-available web-based software tools aim to help researchers and companies quickly test different scenarios and explore viable bio-based fuels and products without ever stepping foot in the lab. The tools were developed at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, with funding support from the U.S. Department of Energy Bioenergy Technologies Office. The first […]

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POET, South Dakota State University, South Dakota Mines break ground at future POET Bioproducts Institute

POET, South Dakota State University, South Dakota Mines break ground at future POET Bioproducts Institute

November 11, 2021 |

In South Dakota, POET, South Dakota State University and South Dakota Mines held a groundbreaking ceremony for the POET Bioproducts Institute at the Research Park at SDSU. The institute will serve as an innovation center for the development of low-value agricultural and forestry materials into high-value bioproducts such as specialty animal feeds and bioplastics that […]

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University of Maryland researchers taking wood beyond traditional uses

University of Maryland researchers taking wood beyond traditional uses

November 10, 2021 |

In Maryland, University of Maryland researchers recently published three papers revealing surprising ways to use wood in three of the top science journals: Shape of (Wooden) Things to Come The advantages of wood as a structural material are legion: renewable, lightweight, naturally durable and strong, and possessing a lower lifecycle cost than most other materials. […]

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TU Graz researchers produce high purity hydrogen from real biogas

TU Graz researchers produce high purity hydrogen from real biogas

November 9, 2021 |

In Austria, researchers at Graz University of Technology (TU Graz) are continuing the Biogas2H2 project. In one of the world’s largest industry-related demonstration plants, they produce high-purity hydrogen directly at an existing biogas plant from real biogas, which includes all the impurities that are present in the gas. The project is funded by the Austrian Research […]

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