In Maryland, The US Patent and Trademark Office issued patent number 9,193,979 for ethanol-tolerant microorganisms that convert cellulosic biomass to ethanol. The patent describes using the microorganisms to produce ethanol from crop or waste biomass like food waste, crop residues (e.g. corn stalks), algae, or leaves. In contrast to most current biochemical methods to produce […]
In California, the Precourt Institute for Energy and the TomKat Center for Sustainable Energy at Stanford University have awarded 12 faculty seed grants totaling $2.1 million for groundbreaking research on clean energy. Launched in 2010, the seed grant program funds faculty research with the potential for high impact on energy supply and use. Included among […]
In Washington state, Alaska Airlines will conduct a demonstration flight in 2016 using 1,000 gallons of jet fuel made from forest scraps. The aviation biofuel was derived from twigs and small branches that would otherwise have been burned in slash piles after timber harvest. These forest residuals were provided by the Confederated Salish and Kootenai […]
In South Carolina, B3C Fuel Solutions was awarded two patents for its FUEL LIFE technology, including patents for fuel preservation technology (Patent no. 9,149,788) and fuel drying technology (Patent no. 8,828,104). The FUEL LIFE fuel preservation technology is a proprietary nanopore reactive molecular sieve that removes (neutralizes) the compounds in fuel that cause fuel decay. […]
In Taiwan, researchers at the National Taiwan University have developed a synthetic magnetic nanoparticle that helps to harvest oil from microalgae. The nanoparticles are produced from iron oxide and silicon dioxide, then using an alkaline-based catalyst can produce the biodiesel from the magnetically extracted oil. The new method can extract 97.1 percent of the fats […]
In Washington, a new analysis by Life Cycle Associates found that biofuels consumed under the expanded Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS2) have reduced U.S. greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 354 million metric tons of CO2-equivalent since 2008. “The RFS2 has resulted in significant GHG reductions, with cumulative CO2 savings of 354 million metric tonnes over the […]
In Thailand, Benjamas Cheirsilp of Prince of Songkla University has been recognized by the L’Oreal’s “For Women in Science” Fellowship program for her research on the “Isolation and Screening of Oleaginous Fungi for Bioconversion of Lignocellulosic Wastes from Palm Oil Mill to Biodiesel Feedstocks,” looking at ways to create renewable energy from the natural breakdown […]
In Tennessee, researchers at UT and ORNL have focused on finding a use for lignin, which would increase the overall profitability of manufacturing biofuels and make them more attractive to producers as part of a $2.4 million grant from the U.S. Department of Energy. Genetic modification, using different chemicals, and coming up with new processing […]
In Nevada, Glenn Miller is leading the effort in a project at the University of Nevada, Reno to convert roadside gumweed into biofuel, which could help contribute to fuel supplies for the military. “The plant grindelia squarosa, known as curly top gumweed, has extractable hydrocarbons with the potential use as a biodiesel or biomaterials crop,” […]
In Indiana, making biofuel from corn crop residue could become economically viable for farmers with government support and, therefore, lead to a major shift in crop rotation practices favoring more continuous corn plantings, Purdue University researchers conclude. The researchers concluded that the supply of stover-based bio-gasoline would be very limited at low levels of crude oil […]
