Category: Research

Study looks at species protection and palm oil development in Indonesia

August 16, 2020 | admin

In Germany, in an interdisciplinary study by the Universities of Göttingen, Hohenheim and Indonesian partner universities, examines the environmental, social and economic consequences of land-use transitions in a tropical smallholder landscape on Sumatra, Indonesia and the economic-ecological conflicting goals of developments for the oil palm landscapes. Land-use transitions can enhance the livelihoods of smallholder farmers […]

University of Kentucky researchers show dual-purpose hemp cultivars best for bioenergy

August 13, 2020 | Meghan Sapp

In Kentucky, dual-purpose industrial hemp cultivars show the best potential for coproduction of biofuel and bioproducts, according to University of Kentucky College of Agriculture, Food and Environment study. Researchers evaluated 11 hemp cultivars from all over the world. They planted cultivars at UK’s Spindletop Farm and at Robinson Center for Appalachian Resource Sustainability under the […]

Japanese researchers promote plant growth in Camelina

August 12, 2020 | Meghan Sapp

In Japan, researchers at the Japan Science and Technology Agency succeeded in promoting plant growth and increasing seed yield by heterologous expression of protein from Arabidopsis (artificially modified high-speed motor protein) in Camelina sativa, which is expected as a useful plant for biodiesel. In this study, the research group showed that the increase of seed […]

Penn State researchers determine flavonoid compounds help sorghum’s frost tolerance

August 11, 2020 | Meghan Sapp

In Pennsylvania, flavonoid compounds—produced by the roots of some sorghum plants—positively affect soil microorganisms, according to Penn State researchers, who suggest the discovery is an early step in developing a frost-resistant line of the valuable crop for North American farmers. That is important because sorghum is a crop that can respond to climate change because […]

Argonne team leads research on electrocatalyst to produce ethanol from CO2 and water

August 10, 2020 | Meghan Sapp

In Illinois, a research team, led by the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Argonne National Laboratory in collaboration with Northern Illinois University, has discovered a new electrocatalyst that converts carbon dioxide (CO2) and water into ethanol with very high energy efficiency, high selectivity for the desired final product and low cost. Ethanol is a particularly […]

Researchers now know more about the catalyst for the production of methanol

August 9, 2020 | admin

In Germany, a research team from the Ruhr University Bochum and the Max Planck Institute for Chemical Energy Conversion showed for the first time that the zinc component of the active center is positively charged and that the catalyst even has two copper-based active centers, giving insight into methanol production. “The condition of the zinc […]

Nigerian researchers develop new nano-catalyst technology for UCO biodiesel production

August 6, 2020 | Meghan Sapp

In Nigeria, researchers at the University of Ilorin have developed a biodiesel production process from used cooking oil using waste-iron-filling as the building blocks for a nano-catalyst. Scientists used UCO containing 6.1% free fatty acid as feedstock for the trials. The catalysts showed the effectiveness and relative stability for UCO transesterification over three cycles, demonstrating […]

Stanford researchers determine ethanol policy could make Indian sugar production more sustainable

August 5, 2020 | Meghan Sapp

In California, Stanford researchers conducted the first comprehensive analysis of India’s sugar industry and its impact on water, food and energy resources through the lens of its political economy – that is, how entrenched political interests in sugar production threaten food, water and energy security over time. The results show that a national biofuel policy […]

Indian researchers show how PPE can be used as biofuel feedstock

August 4, 2020 | Meghan Sapp

In India, plastic from used personal protective equipment (PPE) can, and should, be transformed into renewable liquid fuels—according to a new study, published in the peer-reviewed Taylor & Francis journal Biofuels. Experts from The University of Petroleum and Energy Studies have suggested a strategy that could help to mitigate the problem of dumped PPE—currently being […]

DOE awards $13M for pennycress resiliency study

August 3, 2020 | Meghan Sapp

In Illinois, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) awarded a $13 million grant to a nationwide project led by Illinois State University aimed at genetically strengthening Thlaspi arvense, commonly known as the weed pennycress and a relative of canola for use in sustainable energy efforts. The grant from the DOE will allow researchers to improve […]

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