In Japan, starch and oils are known as storehouses of carbon in plants. However, the way in which carbon resources are allocated during metabolism in plants remained unknown. Now, however, using a forward genetics approach, researchers from Chiba University have identified that a gene named LIRI1 regulates this process, significantly increasing oil storage in leaves […]
In Washington state, scientists at Washington State University have found a new way to produce sugar from corn stalks and other crop waste, potentially opening a new pathway to sustainable biofuels. Newly published in Bioresource Technology, their experimental process used ammonium sulfite-based alkali salts to convert corn stover — leftover corn stalks, husks, and other […]
In Brazil, a new lifecycle study published in Sustainability Science and Technology has discovered a promising alternative to plastic sanitary products, potentially leading to far reduced sanitary waste. Sanitary pads made with cornstarch are 17 times more environmentally friendly compared to plastic equivalents. The high concentration of plastic in disposable products is a direct threat […]
In Malaysia, analysis of independent satellite data shows a decrease in the efficiency of palm oil plantations in Malaysia after they received sustainability labels. This could have negative repercussions for the environment. Sustainability certificates are inherently beneficial. The label on the packaging ensures that specific environmental and social standards are upheld during production. Many consumers […]
In Spain, the European-funded CO2SMOS project officially concludes this month after four years of collaborative research and innovation aimed at supporting the bio-based industry in reducing its carbon footprint. With €7 million in funding from the Horizon 2020 program, the project has developed and scaled technologies that convert biogenic CO₂ emissions into valuable chemicals and […]
In Kansas, most plant oils consist of triacylglycerols, molecules with three fatty acids (long lipid molecules) linked to a glycerol backbone. However, throughout the plant kingdom, seeds from certain species produce different oil types with unique structures and properties. One such oil is acetyl-triacylglycerol (acetyl-TAG), found naturally in the burning bush plant (Euonymus alatus). Acetyl-TAG […]
In Germany, with artificial photosynthesis, mankind could utilise solar energy to bind carbon dioxide and produce hydrogen. Würzburg chemists have taken this one step further. One of the leading researchers in the field of artificial photosynthesis is chemist Professor Frank Würthner from Julius-Maximilians-Universität (JMU) Würzburg in Bavaria, Germany. His team has now succeeded in imitating […]
In the UK, Fuel Cells Works reported that a research project to improve the feasibility of green hydrogen production has been launched by the King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals, in Saudi Arabia. The project aims to reduce the cost of producing the element to make the process more economically viable. It uses a […]
In Sweden, high-starch algae are important in biofuel production, as a feed supplement in agriculture and as an efficient way to bind carbon dioxide. Researchers at Uppsala University have now found a new method to control starch storage in algae—a finding with potential applications in areas such as reducing greenhouse gases. In the new study, […]
In Brazil, Agencia FAPESP reports the University of São Paulo (USP) is testing the world’s first experimental station dedicated to the production of renewable hydrogen from ethanol. The project, carried out by the Research Center for Greenhouse Gas Innovation (RCGI), represents a milestone in the search for clean energy solutions and the transition to a low-carbon […]
