In Spain, researchers from the Higher Technical School of Mining Engineers of the Polytechnical University of Madrid (UPM), in collaboration with the ETS of Industrial Engineers of the University of Castilla-La Mancha, have produced a new biodiesel from mixtures of low quality animal fats and soybean oil. The results obtained suggest that from these raw […]
In the United Kingdom, the Miscanthus genus of grasses, commonly used to add movement and texture to gardens, could quickly become the first choice for biofuel production. A new study shows these grasses can be grown in lower agricultural grade conditions – such as marginal land – due to their remarkable resilience and photosynthetic capacity […]
In Switzerland, lakes store huge amounts of methane. In their most recent publication, researchers at the University of Basel in Switzerland outline the potential and theoretical possibilities for using methane from lakes and other freshwater bodies for sustainable energy production. Methane from lakes and water reservoirs makes up about 20% of global natural methane missions. […]
In Nebraska, four-year research project led by researchers from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and supported by a $4 million grant from the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs suggests that keeping up with demand may not necessarily mean converting more valuable, fragile ecosystems into agricultural land. According to research published March 25 in Nature Sustainability, palm […]
In China, in their paper, published in the Journal of Renewable and Sustainable Energy, Yangzhou University researchers in China show how a combination of monochromatic red and blue LED illumination on one type of microalga can enhance its growth and increase the biosynthesis of critical components, such as lipids, for microalgae feedstock development. The researchers […]
In Singapore, food scientists from Nanyang Technological University, Singapore (NTU Singapore) have made an antibacterial gel bandage using the discarded husks of the popular tropical fruit, durian. Known as the “King of Fruits” in Southeast Asia, the durian has a thick husk with spiky thorns which is discarded, while the sweet flesh surrounding the seeds […]
In Germany, researchers at RUB and the University of Duisburg-Essen developed a new catalyst for converting carbon dioxide into chemicals or fuels. They optimized already available copper catalysts in order to improve their selectivity and long-term stability. The greenhouse gas CO2 can be converted into larger carbon compounds that can be used as basic chemicals […]
In Washington state, a large-scale demonstration converting biocrude to renewable diesel fuel has passed a significant test, operating for more than 2,000 hours continuously without losing effectiveness. Scientists and engineers led by the U.S. Department of Energy’s Pacific Northwest National Laboratory conducted the research to show that the process is robust enough to handle many […]
In New Mexico, a collaboration between Los Alamos National Laboratory and Jenike & Johanson, a bulk solids storage company, and funded by the U.S. Department of Energy Bioenergy Technologies Office through the Feedstock-Conversion Interface Consortium, has developed new technologies, called Smart Transfer Chutes, with integrated acoustic moisture sensors that greatly improve the operational reliability of […]
In Washington state, researchers from Pacific Northwest National Laboratory successfully converted food waste from Joint Base Lewis-McChord and Coyote Ridge Corrections Center into an energy-dense biofuel that could help replace today’s fossil fuels. Early results suggest food waste might deliver a trifecta of efficiency, economic and environmental benefits. First, from an efficiency standpoint, food waste’s […]
