Category: Research

Chinese researchers develop novel catalyst to enhance electrochemical reduction of CO2 to ethanol

September 30, 2025 | Meghan Sapp

In China, researchers at Fuzhou University have developed a novel catalyst using ultrasmall palladium nanoparticles supported on zirconium phosphate, achieving enhanced electrochemical reduction of CO2 to ethanol. This breakthrough, published in Frontiers in Energy, highlights a significant step towards sustainable fuel production, addressing the pressing need for efficient carbon capture technologies. The electrochemical reduction of CO2 (CO2RR) […]

South Korean researchers develop robust and cost-effective electrocatalyst to produce hydrogen from seawater

September 29, 2025 | Meghan Sapp

In South Korea, among hydrogen production methods, alkaline water electrolysis is efficient and environmentally friendly; however, its dependence on freshwater limits large-scale implementation. Seawater electrolysis offers a practical alternative by tapping Earth’s abundant water resources, but high chloride concentrations accelerate catalyst corrosion and reduce efficiency, posing significant challenges for sustainable hydrogen generation. To address this, […]

German research highlights promise of fuel cell HGVs with road-ready prototype

September 28, 2025 | Juan Pedro Tomas

In Germany, Trans.Info reported that researchers in Germany say fuel cell HGVs could become a viable option for European haulers, and have now put their own prototype on the road after receiving official approval. Hydrogen lorries can deliver ranges of up to 1,000 km and refuel in minutes, but operators face higher costs and limited […]

German researchers recovering high-quality products from municipal wastewater

September 25, 2025 | Meghan Sapp

In Germany, sewage treatment plants do more than just clean wastewater. They are also sources of raw materials. In the KoalAplan project, researchers from the Fraunhofer Institute for Interfacial Engineering and Biotechnology IGB are working with partners to recover high-quality products from municipal wastewater. These include ammonium, hydrogen and polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs), which can be used […]

Ohio State University researchers find electric jolt speeds up food waste processing

September 24, 2025 | Meghan Sapp

In Ohio, adding an electrical jolt to fermentation of industrial food waste speeds up the process and increases the yield of platform chemicals that are valuable components in a wide range of products, new research shows. In developing the new system, researchers at The Ohio State University also discovered that combining two bacterial species in […]

University of Copenhagen researchers convert plastic waste into new form of CO2 sorbent

September 23, 2025 | Meghan Sapp

In Denmark, chemists at the University of Copenhagen have developed a method to convert plastic waste into a climate solution for efficient and sustainable CO2 capture. This is killing two birds with one stone as they address two of the world’s biggest challenges: plastic pollution and the climate crisis. With the new chemical technology, researchers […]

South Korean researcher show use of copper alloy catalysts for CO2 conversions

September 22, 2025 | Meghan Sapp

In South Korea, Seoul National University College of Engineering announced that a joint research team has become the first in the world to elucidate the reconstruction mechanism of copper alloy catalysts during electrochemical CO₂ conversion reactions. The research sheds light on atomic rearrangements in catalyst surface structures during reaction and presents a methodology for predicting […]

UK researchers use glycerol to make renewable hydrogen and propane

September 21, 2025 | Juan Pedro Tomas

In the UK, Oils & Fats International reported that a research team at Aston University, UK,have developed a process to produce renewable hydrogen and propane from glycerol. Glycerol or glycerine is produced mainly from fats and oils via hydrolysis in traditional soap-making, or transesterification for biodiesel production, and is often used in health and beauty […]

Hong Kong researchers discover method for removing harmful alkaline earth metal ions from biodiesel

September 18, 2025 | Meghan Sapp

In Hong Kong, scientists at Kunming University of Science and Technology collaborating with The Hong Kong Polytechnic University have discovered a promising method for removing harmful alkaline earth metal ions from biodiesel using amino polycarboxylate chelating agents. Their study, published in Frontiers in Energy, suggests that this method could improve the quality and stability of biodiesel, a […]

German researchers move beyond gasification for waste biomass processing

September 17, 2025 | Meghan Sapp

In Germany, researchers at Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU) are proposing a method with which raw and waste materials from plants can be processed in a self-contained procedure under mild reaction conditions. This method means that the complex drying and transportation of biomass to large biomass gasification plants becomes superfluous. The results were published in the journal […]

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