Category: Research

Catalysts convert bioethanol into butanol, biomass waste into high-value chemicals

November 16, 2020 | admin

In India, Tribune India reports that Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati researchers have formulated efficient ‘pincer’ catalytic systems that transform industrial/biomass wastes into valuable chemicals like lactic acid and hydrogen. Such catalysts also efficiently convert bioethanol, a low-energy density fuel, into high-energy density butanol. “Pincer catalysts are complex molecules in which, an organic moiety holds […]

NREL recycles biorefinery waste streams to create high-value chemical products

November 15, 2020 | admin

In Colorado, National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) researchers, with funding support from the U.S. Department of Energy’s Bioenergy Technologies Office (BETO), developed a method to isolate organic compounds, specifically the monomers which are precursors to everyday materials like plastics, out of biorefinery aqueous waste. The NREL team addressed the thermochemical conversion strategy of catalytic fast […]

European Bioeconomy University project seeks to prepare students for the future

November 12, 2020 | Meghan Sapp

In Finland, the School of Forest Sciences at the University of Eastern Finland is a partner in a new Erasmus+ project of the European Bioeconomy University, EBU, which seeks to develop a mechanism to enhance bioeconomy students’ cross-sectoral mindset. Thanks to a shared platform for online learning and study tours, students will be able to […]

PNNL develops novel catalyst to convert ethanol into C5+ ketones

November 11, 2020 | Meghan Sapp

In Washington state, scientists at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) have developed a novel catalyst that converts ethanol into C5+ ketones that can serve as building blocks for everything from solvents to jet fuel. In a new paper, they describe this breakthrough chemistry and the mechanism behind it. The catalyst developed at PNNL condenses multiple […]

Berkeley Lab researchers modify microbe to boost bio-based products production

November 10, 2020 | Meghan Sapp

In California, researchers from Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (Berkeley Lab) have achieved unprecedented success in modifying a microbe to efficiently produce a compound of interest using a computational model and CRISPR-based gene editing. Their approach could dramatically speed up the research and development phase for new biomanufacturing processes, and get cutting-edge bio-based products such as […]

University of Kentucky researchers seek solutions to sulfur challenges in biofuel production

November 9, 2020 | Meghan Sapp

In Kentucky, sulfur found in biofuel feedstock poses serious problems to the industry, because it causes pollution, is toxic to the catalyst and corrosive to biorefinery equipment. A national group of scientists and industry partners led by researchers at the University of Kentucky is studying ways to reduce sulfur levels in pine byproducts used to […]

PNNL’s hydrothermal liquefaction shows promise for turning toxic algal blooms into biocrude

November 7, 2020 | admin

In Washington, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory has helped the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Research and Development Center take their algae bloom research a step further by investigating blooms as a viable source of biocrude fuel and fertilizer using hydrothermal liquefaction. The team demonstrated a three-step approach that “cleans” the water, removes the algae and […]

Embrapa researching renewable diesel production from chicken bones

November 5, 2020 | Meghan Sapp

In Brazil, Embrapa Agroenergia, in partnership with the company Haka Bioprocessos, has begun research that may result in a green diesel obtained from the hydrogenation of bio-oil from bone waste from poultry. The unit will characterize the chemical components of the raw material (bio-oil), pre-treatment, hydrogenation and characterize the final product. The Embrapa research says […]

NREL and ORNL researchers find sugar yields of lignocellulosic feedstocks key

November 4, 2020 | Meghan Sapp

In Colorado, popular wisdom holds that tall, fast-growing trees are best for biomass, but new research by two U.S. Department of Energy National Laboratories reveals the size of trees is only part of the equation. Of equal economic importance, according to scientists from the U.S. Department of Energy’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) and Oak […]

Washington State University researchers part of major pennycress study

November 3, 2020 | Meghan Sapp

In Washington state, researchers at Washington State University are taking a closer look at the genetics and physiology of pennycress, as part of a multi-institutional, $12.9 million research project, funded by the U.S. Department of Energy, and led by Illinois State University. Their five-year goal: to help develop a winter cover crop that can thrive […]

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