Category: Research

University of Illinois U-C researchers found repurposing refineries for ATJ makes sense

April 16, 2026 | Meghan Sapp

In Illinois, a study by researchers at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign evaluated the financial viability and environmental implications of integrating an ATJ SAF biorefinery within a petroleum refinery, utilizing miscanthus and switchgrass as example feedstocks. Three scenarios were evaluated: standalone (benchmark), colocated, and repurposing (coprocessing SAF within the petroleum refinery). The paper is published […]

North Carolina State University researcher synthesize photosynthetic pigment in bacteria

April 15, 2026 | Meghan Sapp

In North Carolina, researchers from North Carolina State University have successfully synthesized bacteriochlorophyll a, a photosynthetic pigment found in bacteria which absorbs infrared light. The work represents the first chemical synthesis of this molecule and could give scientists deeper insights into photosynthetic function and photosynthetic energy. “There are two ‘worlds’ of photosynthesis: the green plant-based […]

UAE researchers develop method to extract bio-oil from date palm tree fiber waste

April 14, 2026 | Meghan Sapp

In the UAE, researchers have developed a method to extract bio-oil from the surface fiber waste of date palm trees, an abundant, low-cost, and sustainable biomass resource generated by an estimated 150 million date palm trees worldwide. The findings are presented in a recent article published in the journal ACS Omega. In the study, the […]

EU project demos using brewery waste for bioplastics to use in packaging

April 13, 2026 | Meghan Sapp

In Germany, the EU funded BioSupPack project has successfully demonstrated that brewery waste can be transformed into high-performance bioplastics for sustainable packaging. Over five years, the consortium has developed and validated innovative polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA and PHB) materials and production processes that offer viable alternatives to fossil-based plastics while supporting compliance with the EU Packaging and […]

Researchers turn recovered car battery acid and plastic waste into clean hydrogen

April 12, 2026 | Juan Pedro Tomas

In the UK, the University of Cambridge said that a group of researchers have developed a solar-powered reactor to break down hard-to-recycle forms of plastic waste – such as drinks bottles, nylon textiles and polyurethane foams – using acid recovered from old car batteries, and converting it into clean hydrogen fuel and valuable industrial chemicals. […]

University of Kentucky researchers turn whisky stillage into supercapacitors components

April 8, 2026 | Meghan Sapp

In Kentucky, University of Kentucky researchers have developed a way to transform whisky production waste into high-performance components for supercapacitors. This solution repurposes an industrial byproduct in a way that could eventually help stabilize the electrical grid. By using a technique called hydrothermal carbonization, which functions like a high-intensity pressure cooker, they convert stillage into […]

Researchers show triacetic acid lactone from sugarcane could be viable

April 7, 2026 | Meghan Sapp

In Illinois, triacetic acid lactone (TAL) has the potential to serve as a bioderived platform chemical for commercial products, including sorbic acid. However, TAL currently lacks a global market as its chemical synthesis is prohibitively expensive. In this study, researchers from the Center for Advanced Bioenergy and Bioproducts Innovation (CABBI) leveraged Biorefinery Simulation and Techno-Economic […]

Malaysian researchers find palm oil biodiesel offers minimal emissions reductions

April 6, 2026 | Meghan Sapp

In Malaysia, a new study from Arak University offers a detailed examination of palm biodiesel’s role in curbing transport-related carbon dioxide emissions in Malaysia. The research analyzed data from 1990 to 2019 to determine the real-world effect of this biofuel. The findings show that while biodiesel offers a small long-term benefit, its immediate impact is […]

German university launches research for sustainable cycle for hydrogen production

April 5, 2026 | Juan Pedro Tomas

In Germany, Paderborn University said that making the hydrogen value chain more sustainable and reducing dependence on critical raw materials are the goals of a new research project involving the Advanced Systems Engineering group at the Heinz Nixdorf Institute (HNI) at Paderborn University. “Hydrogen is a versatile energy carrier and storage medium and is intended […]

Chinese researchers develop alternative approach to chlorine production

April 2, 2026 | Meghan Sapp

In China, researchers from the Qingdao Institute of Bioenergy and Bioprocess Technology (QIBEBT) and the Technical Institute of Physics and Chemistry, both affiliated with the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), have developed an alternative approach to producing chlorine—by harnessing the osmotic energy inherently stored in chloride-rich brines. In a study published in Nature Communications, the […]

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