In Germany, in two recent studies, soil ecologists at the Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research (UFZ) have shown which microbial community is responsible for degradation, what role the climate plays in this process, and why biodegradable plastics could still be problematic. Plastic that ends up in soils, oceans, or inland waters can harm the organisms […]
In Illinois, a Northwestern University research team offers a practical way to make ships CO2 neutral — or even CO2 negative — with CO2-capturing solid oxide fuel cells. After “burning” traditional carbon-based fuels, the fuel cell generates concentrated CO2 that can be stored on-board the ship. From there, the CO2 can either be sequestered or recycled into a renewable […]
In Illinois, a groundbreaking collaboration with a unique workforce development component will help to bring new technologies to the forefront of the bioenergy industry. The Integrated Biochemical and Electrochemical Technologies (IBET) to Convert Organic Waste to Biopower collaboration will be led by the University of Michigan, the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Argonne National Laboratory, […]
In Colorado, scientists at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) developed a fully integrated process to produce a promising precursor for diesel and jet fuel from lignocellulosic biomass, and for less expense than the selling price of the same material from petroleum. The process established by NREL researchers is energy-efficient and results in a 50% […]
In the Netherlands, Wageningen University & Research and its partners developed a new type of aviation fuel that is produced using bio-based waste streams from the agriculture industry. The new type of fuel is based on a mixture of acetone and alcohol. While it does not yet meet all requirements, it is getting close. The […]
In New Hampshire, a Dartmouth Engineering Professor will lead new research funded by a $1.2 million, three-year grant from the US Department of Energy (DOE) to investigate the use of biomass to produce next-generation fuels and chemicals. The researchers’ goal is to use C. thermocellum, a type of bacteria that is a promising candidate for […]
In Louisiana, each day, many of the products we use, whether we know it or not, are produced from natural gas or crude oil using carbon- and energy-intensive processes. But what if we could make those same products using CO2, thereby drastically reducing or even eliminating our carbon footprint? That is the ultimate goal of […]
The Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences has awarded the Nobel Prize in Chemistry 2021 for the development of asymmetric organocatalysis to: Benjamin List, Director of the Max-Planck-Institut für Kohlenforschung David W.C. MacMillan, Professor at Princeton University Background on the Award The rapid expansion in the use of organic catalysts is primarily due to their ability to drive […]
In Washington, the U.S. Department of Agriculture will invest up more than $130 million in sustainable agricultural research projects aimed at improving a robust, resilient, climate-smart food and agricultural system. This investment is made under the National Institute of Food and Agriculture’s Sustainable Agricultural Systems program. This innovative program focuses on a broad base of […]
In Tennessee, an Oak Ridge National Laboratory team has successfully introduced a poplar gene into switchgrass, an important biofuel source, that allows switchgrass to interact with a beneficial fungus, ultimately boosting the grass’s growth and viability in changing environments. Scientists observed the ectomycorrhizal fungus Laccaria bicolor as it enveloped the plant’s roots. This behavior, not […]
