Category: Research

Germany researchers find that bioplastics aren’t necessarily more environmentally friendly than petroleum-based

December 10, 2018 | Meghan Sapp

In Germany, bioplastics are often promoted as an environmentally and climate-friendly alternative to conventional petroleum-based plastics. However, a recent study from the University of Bonn suggests that shifting to plant-based plastics could have less positive effects than expected. Specifically, an increased consumption of bioplastics in the following years is likely to generate increased greenhouse gas […]

Two-dimensional materials skip the energy barrier by growing one row at a time

December 9, 2018 | admin

In Washington, a new collaborative study led by a research team at the Department of Energy’s Pacific Northwest National Laboratory and University of California, Los Angeles could provide engineers new design rules for creating microelectronics, membranes, and tissues, and open up better production methods for new materials. At the same time, the research helps uphold […]

Chinese researchers develop novel catalytic method to processfeedstock for biofuels

December 6, 2018 | Meghan Sapp

In China, researchers from the Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics (DICP) of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and colleagues from Peking University recently reported an efficient and novel catalytic method for the conversion of aqueous biomass fermentation broth to a water-immiscible product. Their finding was published in Nature Communications. They developed a strategy capable of […]

UK launches $76.4 million challenge to create sustainable packaging and plastic

December 5, 2018 | Meghan Sapp

In the UK, household food scraps could be transformed into environmentally-friendly plastic bags and cups, thanks to up to GBP60 million ($76.4 million) of new government funding. Innovators are being challenged to make the UK a world-leader in creating sustainable packaging and reduce the impact of harmful plastics on the environment, as the UK seizes […]

Japanese researchers discover “switch” in algae impacting starch levels

December 4, 2018 | Meghan Sapp

In Japan, results from a collaborative study by Tokyo Tech and Tohoku University, Japan, raise prospects for large-scale production of algae-derived starch, a valuable bioresource for biofuels and other renewable materials. Such bio-based products have the potential to replace fossil fuels and contribute to the development of sustainable systems and societies. A “switch” controlling the […]

University of York researchers find key to producing biofuel from wood in the gut of curious wood-eating crustacean

December 3, 2018 | Meghan Sapp

In the UK, scientists studying the digestive system of a curious wood-eating crustacean have discovered it may hold the key to sustainably converting wood into biofuel. Gribble are small marine invertebrates that have evolved to perform an important ecological role eating the abundant supplies of wood washed into the sea from river estuaries. They can […]

Bamboo for bioenergy a viable option in Indonesia

December 2, 2018 | admin

In Indonesia, bamboo is being looked at as a sustainable alternative bioenergy source, especially considering the country’s palm oil for biofuel being attached for deforestation and other impacts. Researchers from Australia’s RMIT University and the Center for International Forestry Research (CIFOR) consider bamboo a viable alternative since it grows fast, has a long root system, […]

Swedish researcher lead work on using fungi on food waste

November 29, 2018 | Meghan Sapp

In Sweden, wastes become resources in the project Ways2Taste, where researchers at the University of Borås are developing methods for growing fungi on material that would otherwise have become waste. The goal is to produce climate-smart materials–including a whole new source of protein. The waste products used in Ways2Taste come from bakeries, ice cream factories, […]

Japanese researchers develop biocontainment strategy for GMOs

November 28, 2018 | Meghan Sapp

In Japan, Hiroshima University (HU) researchers successfully developed a biocontainment strategy for genetically modified organisms, or GMOs. Their new method prevents genetically modified cyanobacteria from surviving outside of their test environment, enabling ways to more safely research the effects of GMOs. Their results were published in ACS Synthetic Biology. The applications of bioengineered microbes have […]

Saudi researchers see glycerol waste promoting cleaner burning engines

November 27, 2018 | Meghan Sapp

In Saudi Arabia, a compound made from the glycerol by-product of biodiesel production could promote cleaner burning in vehicle engines. The potential of glycerol waste from biodiesel production to be simply converted into a clean-burning sustainable fuel is being explored by scientists at KAUST’s Clean Combustion Research Center. The researchers used computational analysis to explore […]

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