In Germany, researchers from the various universities and research institutes have joined together to form the Fuels Joint Research Group, some of whom have worked together in the past, in an attempt to initiate more joint research into alternative fuels. Exhaust gas treatment as well as environmental and health effects of fuels will also be […]
In Washington, Rabobank recently released a report on Agribusiness in Brazil and United States markets. According to the report, despite developments in Brazil’s access to the US ethanol market, the Brazilian cane industry will struggle to satisfy both its domestic and world demand because of uncertain outlook for output growth. Said David Nelson, Global Strategist […]
In Iowa, Iowa State researchers are studying methods for breaking down the crystalline structure of cellulose in plants to ease the process of breaking down cellulose into sugar. Their research, which was funded by the DOE and the National Science Foundation, has recently been published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
In Washington, 65 percent of algae producers said they plan to expand capacity in 2012, according to a new survey from the Algal Biomass Organization. The survey found that respondents were optimistic that algae biofuels will be commercially available and competitive with fossil fuels by 2020, with 90 percent believing that it is at least […]
In Iowa, researchers at Iowa State University have discovered genetic mutations to cellulose in plants could improve the conversion of cellulosic biomass into biofuels, partly using solid-state nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy as part of the study. The study also reports the cellulose produced by the mutated plant could be more efficiently processed into the sugars […]
In Canada, the Province of Newfoundland and Labrador will fund the Centre for Aquaculture and Seafood Development to the tune of $89,500 to set up a demonstration scale facility that will produce biodiesel from fish oil. Pilot scale research used salmon and cod oils brought in from outside the province but the next round of […]
In China, researchers from China Agricultural University and the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences are moving into the experimental phase of their joint research to develop cassava and switchgrass for biofuel production. Crop trials have taken place in southwest China and north China with the Swedish scientists using their technology to process the feedstock.
In California, Berkeley researchers may be able to turn tobacco into a viable biofuel feedstock. The project is looking to develop a strain of the crop which is highly efficient at harvesting sleight and converting carbon dioxide to hydrocarbon molecules. The enzyme involved with the process would be cyanobacteria, already used in many biofuels projects.
In Illinois, University of Illinois researchers have developed a new maize hybrid that they report will produce as much as 15% to 20% more biomass given the same amount of fertilizer as commercial hybrids. The hybrid is a mix of both tropical and temperate maize, with increased drought resistance and sugars in the corn stalk, […]
In Ireland, researchers at the University of Galway are participating in an $18.5 million EU-funded project exploring the cultivation of seaweed as a feedstock for biofuel production. The project includes a 1 hectare “plot” at sea that will test various local seaweed varieties for suitability as feedstocks in Co. Kerry as well as in Northern […]
