Tag: South Korea

South Korean researchers develop new bioplastic straws that don’t get soggy

South Korean researchers develop new bioplastic straws that don’t get soggy

March 14, 2023 |

In South Korea, in the fight against pollution, several regions in the U.S. have banned the use of plastic straws. Alternative materials exist, but most options are either too expensive to scale up, go limp in drinks or taste bad. But now, a team reporting in ACS Omega has developed a new type of bioplastic […]

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KIST researchers develop green solvent to boost biofuel production efficiency

KIST researchers develop green solvent to boost biofuel production efficiency

March 13, 2023 |

In South Korea, a research team at the Clean Energy Research Center of Korea Institute of Science and Technology (KIST) developed a green solvent that can completely replace conventional petrochemical-based solvents while maximizing the efficiency of biofuel production. The researchers announced that it is now possible to produce sustainable and economically secured biofuels. After screening […]

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South Korean researchers develop paper straws that don’t become soggy

South Korean researchers develop paper straws that don’t become soggy

February 9, 2023 |

In South Korea, paper straws that are currently available are not entirely made of paper alone. Straws made with 100% paper become too soggy when they come in contact with liquids and cannot function as straws. Accordingly, their surfaces should be coated. The joint research team of Dr. Oh Dongyeop and Dr. Kwak Hojung of […]

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Korean researchers find adding tartaric acid to biodegradable plastics makes them stronger

Korean researchers find adding tartaric acid to biodegradable plastics makes them stronger

February 8, 2023 |

In South Korea, cooking a delicious risotto and making plastics are actually very similar processes. In both, ingredients come together and are heated to create a product, but current recipes for synthesizing bioplastics often fall flat, producing flimsy materials. So, taking a hint from chefs, researchers now report in ACS Sustainable Chemistry & Engineering a […]

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Korea Shipbuilding & Offshore Engineering to begin developing hydrogen fuel cells for ships

Korea Shipbuilding & Offshore Engineering to begin developing hydrogen fuel cells for ships

January 10, 2023 |

In South Korea, Korea Shipbuilding & Offshore Engineering (KSOE), the intermediate holding company of HD Hyundai, will embark on a mission to develop fuel cell systems for ships and power generation and acquire technologies for green hydrogen production, in collaboration with Europe’s largest research institute and a fuel cell stack manufacturer. KSOE announced on January […]

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Korea-Spain joint research team recreate bioplastic from steel mill gas waste

Korea-Spain joint research team recreate bioplastic from steel mill gas waste

December 22, 2022 |

In South Korea, a Korea-Spain joint research team recently recreated bioplastic from wasted byproducts from gas fermentation from steel mills. Through joint research with Spain’s Center for Research in Agricultural Genomics (CRAG), a research team in the Department of Chemical Engineering at POSTECH has developed a technology to generate artificial enzymes from E. coli. The […]

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Toymaker Mattel secures biobased ABS

Toymaker Mattel secures biobased ABS

December 5, 2022 |

In South Korea, LG Chem has supplied California toy company Mattel with acrylonitrile butadiene styrene based on vegetable feedstocks. LG Chem can produce about 2 million tons of transparent ABS annually, according to Aju Business Daily. The thermoplastic biopolymer is certified by ISCC PLUS, a program verifying biobased and circular raw materials. LG Chem says […]

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Korean Register, Ulsan Port Authority sign MOU to support methanol-fueled ships

Korean Register, Ulsan Port Authority sign MOU to support methanol-fueled ships

November 23, 2022 |

In South Korea, Korean Register (KR) and Ulsan Port Authority (UPA) have signed an MOU to support methanol-fueled ships and establish the South Korean port as a low-carbon, eco-friendly energy hub. A growing number of dual fuel methanol vessels are being ordered by international shipping companies, and in October South Korean shipping company KSS Marine […]

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South Korean researchers make breakthrough with organic solar cells

South Korean researchers make breakthrough with organic solar cells

September 15, 2022 |

In South Korea, organic solar cells (OSCs), which use organic polymers to convert sunlight into electricity, have received considerable attention in recent times for their desirable properties as next-generation energy sources. These include lightweight, flexibility, scalability, and a high power conversion efficiency (>19%). Currently, several strategies exist for enhancing the performance and stability of OSCs. […]

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Hyosung TNC makes world’s first spandex from corn

Hyosung TNC makes world’s first spandex from corn

September 8, 2022 |

In South Korea, Hyosung TNC has succeeded in extracting spandex from corn and commercializing the world’s first bio-based spandex.  Hyosung TNC announced last month that it successfully developed bio-derived spandex, ‘creora bio-based’, using a natural material extracted from corn instead of coal, and obtained a global eco-friendly certification.  The ‘creora bio-based’ spandex uses a corn-derived […]

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