Tag: ORNL

Gevo licenses two catalyst tech patents from ORNL

Gevo licenses two catalyst tech patents from ORNL

April 8, 2026 |

In Tennessee, Gevo has licensed two patented catalyst technologies from the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) for use in the production of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF). Researchers at ORNL developed catalysts that enable a single-step conversion of ethanol to olefins (ETO), which can then be used to produce SAF. A catalyst accelerates chemical reactions and enhances the efficiency of the fuel production process. In addition to SAF, olefins serve as key building blocks for a wide range […]

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The Digest’s 2025 Multi-Slide Guide to Implementing Low Lifecycle Carbon Fuels on Locomotives

The Digest’s 2025 Multi-Slide Guide to Implementing Low Lifecycle Carbon Fuels on Locomotives

September 7, 2025 |

This CRADA project with Wabtec and ORNL focuses on implementing low lifecycle carbon fuels, particularly hydrogen, in locomotive engines. A new research facility at ORNL’s NTRC is being established, featuring a Wabtec single-cylinder engine and extensive infrastructure upgrades for electrical, air, fuel, oil, and coolant systems. Hydrogen storage and delivery systems are designed. The approach […]

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ORNL researchers analyze compounds released by plant roots that can improve energy crops

ORNL researchers analyze compounds released by plant roots that can improve energy crops

August 25, 2025 |

In Tennessee, scientists at the Department of Energy’s Oak Ridge National Laboratory conducted a meticulous analysis of the compounds released by plant roots into their surrounding environment. The analysis yielded an abundance of data that can guide research aiming to improve the way we grow energy and food crops. Researchers have long known that the […]

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ORNL researchers study rhizodeposition to boost crop resilience

ORNL researchers study rhizodeposition to boost crop resilience

August 21, 2025 |

In Tennessee, scientists at the Department of Energy’s Oak Ridge National Laboratory conducted a meticulous analysis of the compounds released by plant roots into their surrounding environment. The analysis yielded an abundance of data that can guide research aiming to improve the way we grow energy and food crops. Researchers have long known that the […]

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ORNL researchers develop method of detecting RNA with a visible fluorescent signal

ORNL researchers develop method of detecting RNA with a visible fluorescent signal

May 22, 2025 |

In Tennessee, scientists at Oak Ridge National Laboratory have developed a first-ever method of detecting ribonucleic acid, or RNA, inside plant cells using a technique that results in a visible fluorescent signal. The technology can help researchers detect and track changes in RNA and gene expression in real time, providing a powerful tool for the […]

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ORNL researchers identify gene that boosts tree height by 30%

ORNL researchers identify gene that boosts tree height by 30%

May 12, 2025 |

In Tennessee, a team of scientists from two Department of Energy Bioenergy Research Centers identified a gene in poplar trees that enhances photosynthesis and can boost the height of trees by about 30% in the field and as much as 200% in a greenhouse. The gene, named BOOSTER, is a chimeric gene—one formed by the […]

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ORNL and University of Cincinnati researcher find key to butanol’s microbe vulnerability

ORNL and University of Cincinnati researcher find key to butanol’s microbe vulnerability

March 31, 2025 |

In Tennessee, scientists at the Department of Energy’s Oak Ridge National Laboratory and the University of Cincinnati achieved a breakthrough in understanding the vulnerability of microbes to the butanol they produce during fermentation of plant biomass. The discovery could pave the way for more efficient production of domestic fuels, chemicals and materials. The team used […]

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CBI, ORNL and CABBI researchers ID poplar tree gene that boosts photosynthesis

CBI, ORNL and CABBI researchers ID poplar tree gene that boosts photosynthesis

January 6, 2025 |

In Tennessee, a team of scientists with two Department of Energy Bioenergy Research Centers — the Center for Bioenergy Innovation, or CBI, at Oak Ridge National Laboratory and the Center for Advanced Bioenergy and Bioproducts Innovation, or CABBI, at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign — identified a gene in a poplar tree that enhances photosynthesis […]

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ORNL researchers convert methane and carbon dioxide into syngas

ORNL researchers convert methane and carbon dioxide into syngas

December 3, 2024 |

In Tennessee, a chemical reaction can convert two polluting greenhouse gases into valuable building blocks for cleaner fuels and feedstocks, but the high temperature required for the reaction also deactivates the catalyst. A team led by the Department of Energy’s Oak Ridge National Laboratory has found a way to thwart deactivation. The strategy may apply […]

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ORNL and University of Maine researchers design 3D recyclable natural-material floor panel to replace steel

ORNL and University of Maine researchers design 3D recyclable natural-material floor panel to replace steel

June 25, 2024 |

In Tennessee, researchers at the Department of Energy’s Oak Ridge National Laboratory and the University of Maine have designed and 3D-printed a single-piece, recyclable natural-material floor panel tested to be strong enough to replace construction materials like steel. The project is part of the Sustainable Materials & Manufacturing Alliance for Renewable Technologies, or SM2ART, program. The SM2ART […]

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