Category: Research

International consortium uses bio-engineering and mutations for improving biofuel producing bacterial enzymes

September 16, 2017 | admin

In Washington, DC, the American Institute of Physics reported that CellulosomePlus, an international research consortium that includes researchers from Spain, Poland and Ireland, developed a way to re-engineer the bacterial enzyme complexes, called cellulosomes, which serve as catalysts in the degradation process. Helping bacteria become more efficient in this process could result in more affordable […]

Indian researchers produce biodiesel from waste carbon using local bacteria

September 14, 2017 | Meghan Sapp

In India, researchers from New Delhi’s Jawaharlal Nehru University have discovered that by bringing together species of bacteria from Aravalli marble mines near Alwar and from brackish waters in the high-altitude Pangong Lake in Ladakh on the border with China can create biodiesel. The bacteria from the marble mines can sequester atmospheric carbon dioxide into organic […]

EU project seeks to produce biomass fuels using gasification and synthesis process

September 13, 2017 | Meghan Sapp

In Finland, the EU project COMSYN aims to develop a production concept for competitive bio-based fuels by means of a compact gasification and synthesis process. The target reduction for biofuel production is up to 35 percent compared to alternative methods, which translates to less than EUR0.80/liter production cost for diesel. The production concept is based […]

DOE researchers find drought-hit biomass produces toxic compounds rather than fuels

September 12, 2017 | Meghan Sapp

In the Midwest, Department of Energy researchers examined the effect of weather on biofuel production by comparing switchgrass and corn stover harvested after a year of major drought and after 2 years of normal precipitation. They found that the plants produced more sugar, but the sugar changed during pretreatment and produced toxic compounds rather than […]

Penn State researchers develop new way to produce ethanol from potato waste

September 11, 2017 | Meghan Sapp

In Pennsylvania, with more than two-dozen companies in Pennsylvania manufacturing potato chips, it is no wonder that researchers in Penn State’s College of Agricultural Sciences have developed a novel approach to more efficiently convert potato waste into ethanol. This process may lead to reduced production costs for biofuel in the future and add extra value […]

Researchers invent new one-step process for extracting sugars from biomass

September 9, 2017 | admin

In Delaware, University of Delaware researchers invented a more efficient, and less costly, process for extracting sugars from wood chips, corn cobs and other organic waste from forests and farms. Their new process requires only one step to separate out the sugars from the lignin, instead of the usual two-step process that uses harsh chemicals […]

Berkeley Lab researchers develop syngas method by adding copper atop gold

September 7, 2017 | Meghan Sapp

In California, researchers from the Berkeley Lab have developed a new recipe for creating synthesis gas mixtures, or syngas, that involves adding a pinch of copper atoms sprinkled atop a gold surface. The new material supports a room-temperature electrochemical reaction that can convert carbon dioxide and water into syngas, a mixture of carbon monoxide and […]

French researchers discover enzyme that allows microalgae to produce hydrocarbons

September 6, 2017 | Meghan Sapp

In France, an international team has discovered an enzyme which allows microalgae to convert some of their fatty acids into hydrocarbons using light. This enzyme, which has been named “FAP” (Fatty Acid Photodecarboxylase), is of an extremely rare type, as only four enzymes powered by light have been identified to date. Chlorella is a single-cell […]

Researchers at Norwegian university discover how LPMOs break down cellulose

September 5, 2017 | Meghan Sapp

In Norway, researchers at the Norwegian University of Life Sciences (NMBU) discovered that the mechanism by which “Lytic Polysaccharide Monooxygenases” or LPMOs break down cellulose is different from what was previously thought. What has been discovered is that LPMOs do not need oxygen but hydrogen peroxide, which is a cheap liquid chemical. Although this finding […]

LSU AgCenter scores $387,000 grant to evaluate cover crops for energy cane

September 4, 2017 | Meghan Sapp

In Louisiana, a team of LSU AgCenter researchers has received a four-year, $387,000 grant to evaluate the feedstock potential of energy cane and sweet sorghum with winter cover crops. Energy cane produces three crops in four years from one planting. The growing cycle is similar to the pattern farmers use for growing sugarcane. Growers and […]

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