Category: Research

Australian researchers develop simple, inexpensive way to extract bioactives from single-cell algae oil

July 20, 2022 | Meghan Sapp

In Australia, new research at Flinders University has discovered a simple, low-cost and effective way to extract high-value bioactives from single-cell algae oil—using waste sulfur from industries such as petrochemical production. The innovative algae oil production process, described in the international journal ACS Sustainable Chemistry & Engineering, outlines the new method of using waste sulfur […]

Texas A&M AgriLife teams with Chevron to get peanuts into engines

July 19, 2022 | Meghan Sapp

In Texas, peanut oil powered the world’s first diesel engine when it was premiered by Rudolf Diesel at the World Exposition in Paris in 1900. Now, a collaboration between Chevron and Texas A&M AgriLife is reviving the use of peanuts as a renewable feedstock for diesel fuel with a lower carbon intensity. The five-year, multi-million-dollar […]

University of Technology Sydney develop robotic system to analyze thousands of algae strains daily

July 18, 2022 | Meghan Sapp

In Australia, University of Technology Sydney researchers in the Climate Change Cluster (C3) have partnered with PSI – the world-leading manufacturer for biological sciences instruments – to develop and install an automated robotic system that screens thousands of types of algae each day. Previously, it took scientists around six months of manual, full-time experimental work […]

Chinese researchers develop method for treating wastewater from cellulose materials

July 14, 2022 | Meghan Sapp

In China, oil spills and industrial pollution pose a huge threat to the ecological environment. Concerns over safety have seen an increased focus on improving the filtration of oily wastewater; for example, during the treatment of sewage. Membrane separation technology offers a promising and efficient option for treating that wastewater, particularly with its low energy […]

Study shows benefits of using biobased residues instead of nitrogen fertilizer

July 14, 2022 | Juan Pedro Tomas

In Canada, a new study led from the University of Waterloo discovered greenhouse gas production is significantly less when biobased residues like compost replaces widely used nitrogen fertilizer during spring freeze-thaw events in cold temperate regions. “In cold temperate regions like Canada, spring freeze-thaw events contribute significantly to greenhouse gas production which further exacerbates climate […]

Chinese researchers develop photocatalyst to make solar fuels competitive

July 13, 2022 | Meghan Sapp

In China, carbon dioxide or CO2 can potentially be used as a feedstock to be converted into carbon-neutral “solar fuels” that store energy from the sun. But for them to be competitive with fossil fuels, the chemical reaction that performs this conversion needs much more efficient catalysts. Researchers have recently come up with a photocatalyst […]

EPFL scientists develop new PET-like plastic from lignin

July 12, 2022 | Meghan Sapp

In Switzerland, EPFL scientists have developed a new, PET-like plastic that is easily made from the non-edible parts of plants. The plastic is tough, heat-resistant, and a good barrier to gases like oxygen, making it a promising candidate for food packaging. Due to its structure, the new plastic can also be chemically recycled and degrade […]

Berkeley Lab researchers develop new fuel type

July 11, 2022 | Meghan Sapp

In California, a group of biofuel experts led by Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (Berkeley Lab) took inspiration from an extraordinary antifungal molecule made by Streptomyces bacteria to develop a totally new type of fuel that has projected energy density greater than the most advanced heavy-duty fuels used today, including the rocket fuels used by NASA. […]

New farmer-centric research on biologicals launched

July 10, 2022 | admin

In Ohio, “Biologicals: Farmer Value, Perception and Potential,” a comprehensive market research effort focused on understanding farmer opinions on the current use, issues and potential for biologicals at field-level was launched by Stratovation Group in close collaboration with the Agricultural Retailers Association (ARA), DC Legislative and Regulatory Services (DCLRS) and The Fertilizer Institute (TFI). “Most […]

University of New South Wales chemists develop way to bind methane

July 7, 2022 | Meghan Sapp

In Australia, University of New South Wales chemists have engineered a new molecular “vice,” by including the rare metal osmium, that can bind methane for hours—providing crucial evidence for an intermediate step that will inform new catalysts to store, transport, or transform the gas into methanol and help to avert wastage of the gas worldwide. […]

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