In Michigan, an economist at Michigan State University found that when ethanol prices rose 10 cents per gallon, demand for ethanol fell only 12 percent to 16 percent on average, meaning that a mandate might not be the best way to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Instead he suggested incentives for driving less or for buying […]
In Scotland, scientists have developed an “electric leaf”, which is capable of producing a liquid hydrocarbon similar to petrol using electricity generated from renewable resources. This discovery could mean significant yield improvement for algae development by eliminating or reducing the inefficiencies of photosynthesis. The research, entering its second phase, will be applied to cyanobacteria to […]
In Massachusetts, Amherst researchers have discovered a small molecule, called α-cyclodextrin, that behaves the same as cellulose when it is converted to biofuel. Studying this ‘mini-cellulose’ molecule reveals for the first time the chemical reactions that take place in wood and prairie grasses during high-temperature conversion to biofuel. Using the faster computer simulations, they can […]
In Washington, the DOE has halted a research project at Iowa State University funded by ARPA-E to develop biofuel feedstock from an aquatic micro-organism for failing to reach research milestones. About 56% of the $4.4 million grant was used. Politicians against increasing APRA-E funding as proposed by President Obama’s new budget are using it and […]
In India, the National Environmental Engineering Research Institute has teamed with Purti Power and Sugar Ltd to scale up its algae-biodiesel technology to industrial scale. The scale-up will initially focus on chlorella, which has been successful at lab scale, but could later be mixed with Scenedesmus. The project will use fresh water ponds.
In Georgia, researchers at the University of Georgia have mapped the genomes of two originator cells of Miscanthus x giganteus. Of the 600 pieces of DNA that have been identified, the next step will be to determine which pieces of DNA are diagnostic of genes that can be altered to improve the crop for biofuel […]
In California, researchers at the University of California-Berkeley have designed a catalyst composed only of edges, that can catalyze the production of hydrogen from water as readily as the edges and defects in regular catalysts. In an article appearing in this week’s edition of Science, the team has created materials with billions of active sites […]
In Belgium, the ISAAA released a report on the use of biotech crops, stating that approximately 160 million hectares of biotech/GMO crops were planted. According to the EurActive article, this represents an 8% increase, and the work of 16.7 million farmers spread over 29 countries. ISAAA also reported a more than four-fold increase by farmers […]
In the UK, researchers from the University of Cambridge and Rothamsted Research have discovered a series of genes that will help them to develop grass breeds where it is easier to tap energy in fibrous parts of the plant without risking the plant’s structure. The genetic manipulation revolves around the xylan molecule that makes up […]
In Germany and the US, researchers have independently discovered that using a zeolite known as ZSM-5 impregnated with metal nanoparticles can reduce the catalysts needed to transform bio-oil into useful hydrocarbons to just one. Johannes Lercher at the Technical University of Munich in Germany used nickel nanoparticles, while George Huber from the University of Massachusetts-Amherst […]
