In New Mexico, Sandia Lab asks, what does jet fuel have in common with pantyhose and plastic soda bottles? They’re all products currently derived from petroleum. Sandia National Laboratories scientists have demonstrated a new technology based on bioengineered bacteria that could make it economically feasible to produce all three from renewable plant sources. Piecing together […]
In Spain, a new model designed by several University of Cordoba research groups allows for predicting this noise depending on the chemical physical composition of the biofuel that powers the engine. One of the main novelties of the model is that it uses neural networks, mathematical models inspired by the biological behavior of neurons. In […]
In Brazil, missing piece of the puzzle to achieving second-generation ethanol from sugarcane bagasse is saccharification – saccharification meaning the process by which complex sugars called polysaccharides are depolymerized and broken down into simple soluble sugars. This would be achieved through composing the proper enzyme cocktail and consequently assembling an industrial-scale microbial platform for the […]
In Washington, the U.S. Department of Energy announced up to $3 million in funding for advanced biofuels, bioenergy, and biobased products available through the Biomass Research and Development Initiative (BRDI). DOE has selected two projects from the University of Tennessee and Northwestern University that will receive between $1 million to $2 million each. Integrating science […]
In the Philippines, researchers from University of the Philippines and Hiroshima University in Japan conducted a study that focused on ethanol production from macroalgae using only enzymatic treatment for saccharification of algal biomass. This involved the isolation and identification of cellulase and laminarinase-producing microorganisms from mangrove area in the Philippines and production of partially purified […]
In Colorado, Robert McCormick, who earned his Ph.D. in chemical engineering from the University of Wyoming and joined NREL nearly 17 years ago, has been elevated to senior research fellow. Along with other current research fellows, these individuals will advise NREL executive management on the strategic direction of science and technology research and ensure NREL’s […]
In Germany, as part of the international STORE&GO research project, opening ceremonies were held Wednesday for the methanization plant expansion to the existing power-to-gas facility in Falkenhagen. While the current facility feeds pure hydrogen (so-called “WindGas”) directly into the gas grid, the new methanation plant provides for the generation of “green” methane. In this second […]
In New York state, a simple genetic modification can triple the grain number of sorghum, a drought-tolerant plant that is an important source of food, animal feed, and biofuel in many parts of the world. In new research reported in Nature Communications, scientists at Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory (CSHL) have figured out how that genetic […]
In India, the Times of India reports that researchers at the Central Salt and Marine Chemicals Institute have developed a method to extract potash from vinasse in an effort to help reduce the toxic waste streams of sugarcane processing and ethanol production. Roughly 8-15 liters of vinasse are produced from every liter of ethanol produced, […]
In Japan, researchers at Japan’s Forestry and Forest Products Research Institute found a way to produce an alcoholic drink made from wood and hope to have their “wood alcohol” on shelves within three years. Using similar wood fermentation as what is used to produce biofuel, they were able to remove toxins and make it flavorful. […]
