NREL eyes renewable acrylonitrile for cheaper carbon fiber
In Colorado, researchers at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory are exploring low-cost, plant-based routes to carbon fiber—a strong, lightweight but pricey material whose use...
Bast fiber-based biocomposites set to grow
In the United Kingdom, market research firm IDTechEx says beneficial properties, competitive cost, legislative drivers, and consumer preferences are driving increasing demand for natural...
Wisconsin researchers report bioplastic precursor breakthrough
In Wisconsin, University of Wisconsin-Madison Professor of Chemical and Biological Engineering James Dumesic and his team report a high-yield, economical route to furan dicarboxylic...
Welsh University wins EU funding for biotech center
In Wales, Bangor University has received £5 million ($7.0 million) in funding from the European Union to establish the Centre for Environmental Biotechnology.
The funding...
British researchers advance solar cells based on algae
In the United Kingdom, researchers at the University of Cambridge have developed more-efficient solar cells based on algae.
“Photosynthesis generates a flow of electrons that...
Halcyon Agri acquires two natural rubber producers
In Indonesia, natural rubber producer Halcyon Agri (Singapore) has announced that it will acquire PT Sumber Djantin and PT Sumber Alam for S$105.3 million...
Akzo’s Imagine Chemistry Challenge yields two potential partners
In the Netherlands, AkzoNobel says the inaugural year of its Imagine Chemistry Challenge has been a success with two of the three 2017 finalists...
New York governor supports forest products center
In New York, Governor Andrew Cuomo has earmarked $6.6 million in his proposed budget to support a new Biorefinery Development and Commercialization Center at...
EU consortium seeks renewable packaging that will also help increase food shelf-life
In Europe, the REFUCOAT project is working to develop more eco-friendly food packaging that also helps preserve food and reduce spoilage.
The program, which is...
Bangladesh set to ramp up production of jute bags
In Bangladesh, a state-run company is set to begin manufacturing shopping bags from jute to help meet the country’s goals of discouraging the use...