Tag: Washington University

Washington University researchers lead new CO2-based bioplastics system

Washington University researchers lead new CO2-based bioplastics system

October 13, 2022 |

In Missouri, Washington University researchers have led the development of a system that uses carbon dioxide, CO2, to produce biodegradable plastics, or bioplastics, that could replace the nondegradable plastics used today. The research addresses two challenges: the accumulation of nondegradable plastics and the remediation of greenhouse gas emissions. The work was published in the Sept. […]

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Washington University researchers determine camelina likely originated near Armenia

Washington University researchers determine camelina likely originated near Armenia

July 5, 2022 |

In Missouri, multidisciplinary research from Washington University in St. Louis is revealing the origins and uses of camelina and may help guide decisions critical to achieving its potential as a biofuel feedstock for a greener aviation industry in the future. In this study, the researchers determined that camelina was likely domesticated from the Caucasus region […]

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Washington University researchers refine metabolic pathways of microbes

Washington University researchers refine metabolic pathways of microbes

November 28, 2017 |

In Missouri, scientists have previously engineered metabolic pathways of microbes, making them tiny biofuel factories. Now, new research from an engineer at Washington University in St. Louis further refines the process, stitching together the best bits of several different bacteria to synthesize a new biofuel product that matches current engines better than previously produced biofuels. […]

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Washington University researcher designs algorithm to determine with genes to alter to boost biofuel production

Washington University researcher designs algorithm to determine with genes to alter to boost biofuel production

November 9, 2016 |

In Missouri, a computer scientist at Washington University in St. Louis has developed a way to coax cells to do natural things under unnatural circumstances, which could be useful for stem cell research, gene therapy and biofuel production. Michael Brent, the Henry Edwin Sever Professor of Engineering in the School of Engineering & Applied Science, […]

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New, better biofuel process using E. coli production booster: new research

New, better biofuel process using E. coli production booster: new research

August 14, 2016 |

In Missouri, engineers at Washington University have found a new way to boost biofuel production in E. coli bacteria by altering its protein structure. Fuzhong Zhang, assistant professor in the Department of Energy, Environmental & Chemical Engineering, along with researchers in his lab, reported in the journal Metabolic Engineering that they have discovered a new method […]

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Washington University researchers develop better way to produce biofuels in E. coli

Washington University researchers develop better way to produce biofuels in E. coli

August 10, 2016 |

In Missouri, a team from the School of Engineering & Applied Science at Washington University in St. Louis has developed a way to make the production of certain biofuels in E. coli much more efficient. Fuzhong Zhang, assistant professor in the Department of Energy, Environmental & Chemical Engineering, along with researchers in his lab, have discovered […]

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Phosphorus fertilizer use can be reduced by using zinc oxide nanoparticles, finds WashU study

Phosphorus fertilizer use can be reduced by using zinc oxide nanoparticles, finds WashU study

May 1, 2016 |

In Missouri, researchers at Washington University in St. Louis have discovered a way to reduce the use of fertilizer made from rock phosphorus and still see improvements in the growth of food crops by using zinc oxide nanoparticles. This is the first study to show how to mobilize native phosphorus in the soil using zinc […]

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Washington University researchers develop method to weed out lazy bacteria

Washington University researchers develop method to weed out lazy bacteria

March 31, 2016 |

In Missouri, researchers at the Washington University in St. Louis have developed a method to weed out lazy bacteria to ensure that only the most efficient are used in order to boost biofuel production yields. The research found that most of the bacteria created from the same ancestor are lazy, eating up feedstock that more […]

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Faster growth: Washington University researchers find record-setting growth rates from a long-lost bacterial strain 

Faster growth: Washington University researchers find record-setting growth rates from a long-lost bacterial strain 

February 4, 2015 |

In Missouri, scientists have re-discovered a fast-growing bacterial strain first described in 1955. Although most cyanobacteria grow slowly, in 1955 two scientists at the University of Texas at Austin described a fast-growing cyanobacterial strain collected from a campus creek. Whereas most strains grew by 5 to 8 percent per hour, this strain grew by 30 […]

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