In North Carolina, researchers from North Carolina State University, in conjunction with the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, are seeking to turn a waste product of pulp and paper mills known as “paper sludge” into a high-performance biofuel. The three-year grant is funded by the U.S. Department of Energy’s Bioenergy Technologies Office and provides the researchers […]
In Texas, researchers at A&M University have deployed the bacterium Zobellella denitrificans ZD1 to convert sewage sludge into the biodegradable plastic polyhydroxybutyrate. PHA is known to be produced by several bacterial species as a supplemental energy reserve in carbon-rich environments with limited nitrogen, phosphorous, or oxygen. Cost issues associated with bacterial production of bioplastics have […]
In Texas, Texas A&M University researchers have uncovered an efficient way to use leftover sludge to make biodegradable plastics. In the September issue of the journal American Chemical Society (ACS) Omega, the researchers report that the bacterium Zobellella denitrificans ZD1, found in mangroves, can consume sludge and wastewater to produce polyhydroxybutyrate, a type of biopolymer that can be used […]
In Canada, researchers at the Institut National de la Recherche Scientifique developed a new approach to biodiesel production that uses microbes, sewage sludge, and glycerol, a biofuel byproduct and were able to lower the production cost down to $0.72/L with their new innovative new process. Processing sludge reduces GHG. “It keeps sludge out of landfills, […]
In Canada, researchers at the Institut National de la Recherche Scientifique (INRS) have developed a new approach to biodiesel production that uses microbes, sewage sludge, and a biofuel byproduct, bringing the production cost down to $0.72/L with an innovative new process. Their findings—in order to assess the costs, energy, and greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) —were […]
In Kenya, the Daily Nation newspaper reports that local company Nawasscoal in conjunction with university researchers has determined that producing briquettes from one metric ton of human waste sludge could save 88 trees from being used for cooking energy. With the aim of producing 300 tons of briquettes monthly, the company estimates it could save […]
The pace of bioeconomy invention and change continues at a frenetic pace. Here are the top innovations for the week of May 8th. In today’s Digest, paper sludge to biogas, 3D printed house, cocoa bean waste-to-fuel, vegan silk biopolymers, biobased adhesives, paper and pasta straws — these and more, ready for you now at The […]
In Finland, Stora Enso will invest $24.8 million (EUR 22 million) at Skoghall Mill in Sweden in an expansion of the existing water treatment plant which is used in the production of cartons where small particles of wood fiber remain. By expanding the plant, the separation of sludge is improved, which in turn improves the […]
In Sweden, the Swedish Energy Agency has granted C-Green Technology AB nearly $2.6 million to build a full-scale plant that converts industrial biosludge into biofuel. The project will be carried out in cooperation with StoraEnso in Finland. Approximately 13 GWh renewable biofuel will be produced annually, at the same time as the mill’s greenhouse gas […]
In Germany, the AVA cleanphos pilot plant in Karlsruhe, sponsored by the German Federal Environment Foundation (DBU), came online at the beginning of July 2016. Leading biotechnology company AVA-CO2 has developed the AVA cleanphos process which enables efficient and cost-effective recovery of phosphorus from sewage sludge. The process also allows for co-incineration in the future and […]
