In California, finding viable alternatives to traditional petroleum-based plastics and microplastics has never been more important. New research from scientists at the University of California San Diego and materials-science company Algenesis shows that their plant-based polymers biodegrade — even at the microplastic level — in under seven months. The paper, whose authors are all UC […]
In Germany, a new composite material is finding its way into the construction industry. Made from natural stone, carbon fibers and biochar, it is an alternative to reinforced concrete. It is characterized by a particularly good CO2 balance. The German Institutes for Textile and Fiber Research, DITF, is leading the joint project “DACCUS-Pre*”. The basic […]
In Illinois, scientists at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champagne have found a way to boost ethanol production via yeast fermentation, a standard method for converting plant sugars into biofuels. Their approach, detailed in the journal Nature Communications, relies on careful timing and a tight division of labor among synthetic yeast strains to yield more ethanol […]
In China, cellulosomes are multi-enzyme complexes known for their efficient lignocellulose degradation, which is valuable in bioenergy technique development. The diverse composition and intricate assembly of cellulosomes give them exceptional substrate degradation capabilities, and deciphering their complex assembly mechanisms can provide a better understanding of their efficiency and promote their applications in bioenergy production. Researchers […]
In Sweden, Chalmers University said that researchers at Chalmers University of Technology have developed an environmentally friendly method for recycling and purifying metals. “Pure metals have a number of uses in a modern society, not least for the development of green technologies. Our research shows how the metal industry can accelerate the transition from fossil […]
In Massachusetts, MIT chemical engineers have devised an efficient way to convert carbon dioxide to carbon monoxide, a chemical precursor that can be used to generate useful compounds such as ethanol and other fuels. If scaled up for industrial use, this process could help to remove carbon dioxide from power plants and other sources, reducing […]
In California, until now, sugarcane’s complicated genetics made it the last major crop without a complete and highly accurate genome. Scientists have developed and combined multiple techniques to successfully map out sugarcane’s genetic code. With that map, they were able to verify the specific location that provides resistance to the impactful brown rust disease that, […]
In Italy, promising new technique from researchers at the Politecnico di Milano using extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) recovered from anaerobic granular sludge may offer a cost-effective, sustainable approach for transforming wastewater into industrially valuable products, and help to reduce carbon emissions. In a study published in Environmental Science and Ecotechnology, researchers coated paper using EPS […]
In Sweden, researchers at Chalmers University of Technology in Sweden have developed an environmentally friendly method for recycling and purifying metals. Using gold earrings from a pawnshop in Gothenburg and biodiesel from the nearest filling station, the discovery could change an industry that is currently dependent on large amounts of fossil oil. In the researchers’ […]
In France, Premium Beauty News reported that Somater has joined forces with French start-up Eranova to create a 100% bio-based line of packaging solutions. The report noted that this news partnership aims to provide a sustainable alternative to fossil-based polymers Somater’s new range of biosourced solutions is based on the ALGX material developed by Eranova […]
