In Canada, researchers at the Institut National de la Recherche Scientifique (INRS) have developed a new approach to biodiesel production that uses microbes, sewage sludge, and a biofuel byproduct, bringing the production cost down to $0.72/L with an innovative new process. Their findings—in order to assess the costs, energy, and greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) —were […]
In Korea, the Korea Institute of Science and Technology (KIST) recently announced that it has developed an effective biofuel production process through the KIST-UBC (University of British Colombia) lab program in Vancouver, Canada. The process leverages the genetic engineering of lignin and bio-derived deep eutectic solvents (DESs). A lignin genetic engineering scheme that can separate […]
In South Korea, an international joint research team has developed an effective biofuel production process that leverages the genetic engineering of lignin and bio-derived deep eutectic solvents (DESs). The research team was led by the Korea Institute of Science and Technology through the KIST- University of British Colombia lab program in Vancouver, Canada. According to […]
In the UK, an international team of researchers has developed an enzyme produced from agricultural waste that could be used as an important additive in laundry detergents. By using an enzyme produced from a by-product of mustard seeds, they hope to develop a low-cost naturally derived version of lipase, the second largest commercially produced enzyme, […]
In Tennessee, scientists at the Department of Energy’s Oak Ridge National Laboratory have developed a new method to peer deep into the nanostructure of biomaterials without damaging the sample. This novel technique can confirm structural features in starch, a carbohydrate important in biofuel production. The research team used the sharp probe tip of an atomic […]
In Japan, in a study published in Advanced Materials, researchers at Aalto University, the University of Tokyo, Sichuan University, and the University of British Columbia have demonstrated that plant-derived cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs) can form an adhesive that fully integrates the concepts of sustainability, performance, and cost which are generally extremely challenging to achieve simultaneously. Unlike […]
In Canada, researchers at the University of Toronto Scarborough have, for the first time, turned waste cooking oil – from the deep fryers of a local McDonald’s – into a high-resolution, biodegradable 3D printing resin. Using waste cooking oil for 3D printing has significant potential. Not only is it cheaper to make, the plastics made from it break down […]
In Germany, oxygen inactivates biocatalysts for energy conversion even under a protective film within a short time and researchers at the Ruhr University Bochum discovered that the addition of iodide salts to the electrolyte can prevent this and considerably extend the life of the catalysts. Biological and bio-inspired catalysts abound, and their catalytic performance is […]
In the Netherlands, recent study by Wageningen University & Research (WUR) analyzed the fate of compostable packaging products in a full- scale industrial organic waste treatment facility. The results show that the tested EN13432 certified products break down within a maximum of 22 days. The project was commissioned by the Dutch Ministry of Economic Affairs […]
In Belgium, an interdisciplinary team of bioscience engineers and economists from KU Leuven has mapped out how wood could replace petroleum in the chemical industry. They not only looked at the technological requirements, but also whether that scenario would be financially viable. A shift from petroleum to wood would lead to a reduction in CO2 […]
