Articles tagged with Bioenergy
POST-PURPLE aims to convert urban wastewater and organic waste into valuable resources through innovative bio-based technologies. The project will demonstrate practical pathways toward cleaner, more circular urban biorefineries and reduce diffuse emissions.
Scientists from the University of Malaga have optimized wastewater use for green hydrogen production through artificial intelligence, improving its efficiency and sustainability. The study used machine learning to fine-tune the process, reducing energy consumption and organic waste.
Researchers have identified genes with organ-preferential expression in sorghum stems, revealing distinct temporal functional signatures and potential candidates for genetic engineering applications. These findings offer valuable insights into improving sorghum stem biomass and composition for bioenergy and biopolymer production.
Researchers measured miscanthus × giganteus net primary productivity in both aboveground and belowground structures. They found that aboveground productivity varied among sites, fertilization rates, and calculation assumptions, with yields ranging from 15.4 to 36.4 Mg DM ha–1 year–1.
Researchers evaluated 13 sorghum hybrids for biomass yield potential and feedstock quality under various nitrogen fertilization levels. H1 and H13 were identified as top performers, exhibiting superior biomass yield and energy-rich feedstock composition.
Artificial neural networks offer superior predictive accuracy in predicting biodiesel properties and enable rapid assessment of diverse feedstock options. Hybrid models combining generative and discriminative approaches achieve significant yield improvements and optimize biodiesel production from waste cooking oil.
Researchers at Oak Ridge National Laboratory found that latitude affects lignin production in poplar trees, which has practical applications for innovations in biomaterials and biofuels. The study reveals a correlation between latitude and lignin expression, guiding future plant engineering to adapt to environmental changes.
A University of Missouri-led study has uncovered how poplar trees can naturally adjust a key part of their wood chemistry based on changes in their environment, supporting improved bioenergy production. The discovery sheds light on the role of lignin and its potential to create better biofuels and sustainable products.
A new study finds that retrofitting young coal plants to co-fire biomass and capture up to 99% of resulting CO2 could eliminate 1.6 billion tonnes of emissions annually by 2040. Bioenergy with carbon capture and storage (BECCS) could deliver between 30 and 780 gigatonnes of cumulative CO2 removal this century.
A study from the University of Johannesburg presents a promising industrial process that can turn sugarcane waste into green hydrogen with high energy efficiency and low tar content. The Sorption-Enhanced Chemical Looping Gasification (SECLG) process produces a small fraction of unwanted by-products, making it an attractive alternative...
Melissa Cregger and Carrie Eckert lead CBI's research on non-food feedstock crops and cost-effective biomass conversion methods. The appointments aim to boost domestic supply chains and energy security while providing job growth in rural areas.
Researchers have developed a sustainable method for extracting sugars, organic acids, and phenolic compounds from corn stover using subcritical water. This process recovers high-value bioderivatives with yields up to six times higher than traditional methods, reducing energy costs and time.
Scientists used a gene-silencing tool and large library to understand how photosynthetic bacteria adapt to light and temperature changes. Partial suppression of genes yielded big benefits in modifying stress response in wild microbes.
Switchgrass, a perennial species, has been found to produce great quantities of biomass and perform important ecosystem services. Studies from the University of Illinois have identified economic and environmental considerations that make switchgrass suitable for sustainable aviation fuel production.
Researchers developed a biomimetic COF membrane that selectively separates lithium ions from complex brines, achieving selectivity comparable to biological ion channels. The membrane's unique structure and design enable efficient single-step purification of lithium, making it a promising route for sustainable extraction.
Biomass is crucial for Europe's ability to reach its climate targets, providing both energy and negative emissions. Excluding biomass from the European energy system would increase costs by 169 billion Euros per year.
Researchers use a new pipeline to make genetically engineered plants with improved oil production, reducing labor and time in the process. The FAST-PB platform integrates automation and single-cell lipidomics to accelerate plant transformation.
Researchers developed a sustainable process to recover valuable products from oilcane bagasse, generating multiple product streams. The process recovers anthocyanins and vegetative lipids for natural colorants and biofuel production, making the process more cost-effective and sustainable.
A University of Nebraska-Lincoln research team has identified methanogens that can consume hydrogen and dissolve calcium carbonate, producing methane. This discovery has implications for the sustainable development of bioenergy sources and challenges current understanding of carbonate mineral stability.
The study finds that climate plantations outside of agricultural land are unlikely to achieve high carbon removal levels, with potential limits set by planetary boundaries. A more plant-based diet could free up space for other uses and reduce emissions.
A landmark photosynthesis gene discovery has been made in a poplar tree that enhances plant growth by up to 200% and increases biomass production. The gene, named Booster, has the potential to boost crop yields without requiring more land, water or fertilizer.
A circular bioeconomy aims to reduce waste, transform industries, and regenerate natural systems for environmentally sustainable food and energy production. The concept needs a values-based economic lens with the right policies and incentives to persuade consumers and producers.
The Journal of Bioresources and Bioproducts is a leading open access journal fostering transformative research on bioresource conversion into biomaterials, biochemicals, and bioenergy. The journal's eight thematic areas focus on cutting-edge topics in sustainable energy and materials science.
Researchers at CABBI used genetic engineering to improve water use efficiency in climate-friendly C4 crops like sorghum and sugarcane, maximizing biomass production while minimizing water usage. The breakthrough could aid crops in mitigating drought stress and support the development of a sustainable bioeconomy.
Researchers at the University of Illinois developed an eco-friendly method to precisely mix fluorine into olefins using natural enzymes and light, offering a more efficient strategy for creating high-value chemicals with potential applications in agriculture, pharmaceuticals, renewable fuels and more.
Researchers developed a crystalline carbon nitride membrane that outperforms traditional polymer membranes in separating lithium ions from magnesium ions in salt-lake brine. The innovative design mimics biological ion channels, achieving an impressive selectivity ratio of 1,708 for highly dilute lithium ions.
Erin Webb, lead at Oak Ridge National Laboratory, elected Fellow of ASABE for significant contributions to sustainable agricultural and forest resource use. Her research focuses on biomass supply chain and logistics, circular agriculture, and renewable energy.
Researchers at Princeton University have modeled a supply chain for second-generation biofuels, which are derived from agricultural waste or non-food crops and can produce more sustainable substitutes for fossil fuels. The study found that careful management of the supply chain could result in systems with lower costs and emissions imp...
A new resource has been created to provide a deeper understanding of the bioenergy crop sorghum and its potential for genetic modification. The study identified gene expression patterns in sorghum stem cells, which can help researchers design cell-type specific promoters for targeted gene expression.
FAPESP aims to create new opportunities for scientific and technological cooperation between researchers from Brazil and the US Midwest, focusing on areas such as health, sustainability, and climate change. The initiative also promotes transdisciplinary research collaborations to address global challenges.
Researchers identified genes controlling sorghum flowering and found that overexpressing one gene can delay flowering, increasing plant growth and biomass. The study provides new insights into optimizing sorghum for bioenergy goals.
Researchers at Berkeley Lab developed EcoFABs to standardize plant microbiome experiments, leading to findings on optimal nitrogen conditions for improved bioenergy crops. The devices also facilitate classroom learning, engaging students in hands-on research.
Scientists at Brookhaven Lab demonstrate new genetic strategy to boost plant oil content by protecting the oil-protector protein, resulting in 54% more oil accumulation in leaves and 13% more in seeds. This approach can increase biomass energy content and provide sustainable fuels.
Researchers studied ant communities in different bioenergy cropping systems to understand how they shape biotic communities and their functions. They found that perennial bioenergy cropping systems with more plant diversity gave rise to a different and more diverse ant community than simpler systems.
Scientists engineered yeast that can harness energy from light, growing 2% faster in the light than in the dark. This discovery provides key evolutionary insights into how rhodopsins spread across lineages and has potential applications for biofuel production and studying cellular aging.
Researchers engineered bacteria to produce zeaxanthin and PDC simultaneously from underutilized plant fiber, offering a promising solution for sustainable biofuels. The discovery could lead to lower greenhouse gas emissions and improved economics in the production process.
The study reveals the critical role of 6mA in lipid accumulation in Nannochloropsis oceanica under high light conditions. Disruption of 6mA levels affects gene expression and biomass production, highlighting its importance in optimizing microalgae for industrial uses.
A team of researchers has made a significant leap forward in molecular chemistry by modifying azaarenes, unique molecular puzzle pieces crucial to many everyday products. Using photoenzymatic systems, they have discovered novel chemical reactions that were previously thought to be out of reach.
A new study reveals that C4 crops are significantly less sensitive to ozone pollution than C3 crops, with potential implications for improving crop productivity and resilience. The research suggests that C4 bioenergy feedstocks can maintain performance in regions with high ozone levels.
The Illinois-led project will sequence at least 50 soybean genomes from cultivated lines and wild relatives, as well as 350 high-quality draft genomes. This will enable the identification of genetic variation and its incorporation into better crops, ultimately leading to climate-resilient soybean varieties.
Jennifer Kane is studying how microbes interact with Miscanthus roots to boost productivity and sustainability. The research aims to understand what conditions enable the plant to prosper, with potential implications for bioenergy production on marginal lands.
Researchers at CABBI develop photoenzymatic system to efficiently synthesize chiral amines, crucial chemical building blocks with wide applications. The team's new method addresses a longstanding challenge in synthetic chemistry and offers a promising platform for biomanufacturing.
The University of Surrey is involved in six national energy research centres, focusing on sustainable solutions for a greener future. Academics are developing hydrogen and ammonia as alternative fuels and boosting bioenergy production to reduce the UK's energy demand.
A new study analyzed coverage of BECCS in 166 newspaper articles to understand public opinion on the energy technology. The research identified eight key storylines, including Pro-BECCS narratives that emphasized its necessity and Revolutionary technology, alongside Anti-BECCS lines that highlighted environmental concerns.
Research suggests that bamboo can be converted into bioethanol and biogas, offering an attractive alternative to fossil fuels. The chemical composition of bamboo varies across species, highlighting the need for further research on selecting optimal species for biomass production processes.
Researchers at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory have developed a novel approach to synthetic biology that enables the simultaneous characterization of hundreds of transcription factors in a plant. This breakthrough has significant implications for agriculture and sustainability, as understanding how transcription factors regulate ...
A new study from the University of Illinois shows that carbon mitigation payments can increase net returns and reduce income risk for farmers growing bioenergy crops. The researchers found that higher biomass prices and targeted carbon credits can make these crops more appealing to farmers, regardless of their risk preference.
A team of researchers from QIBEBT has developed a method to produce high-quality lactic acid from lignocellulosic biomass, reducing the need for intermediate sterilization and nutrient supplementation. This breakthrough has significant implications for industrial-scale production of biodegradable materials.
A team of researchers from China and the UK has developed new ways to optimise the production of solar fuels by creating novel photocatalysts. These photocatalysts, such as titanium dioxide with boron nitride, can absorb more wavelengths of light and produce more hydrogen compared to traditional methods.
Researchers at Leibniz-HKI have confirmed experimentally that bacteria use electrons from hydrogen to produce organic compounds. This breakthrough could make microbial electrosynthesis (MES) a commercially viable technology, producing ethanol and other fuels while storing excess electricity. The study optimized the process for high yie...
A new study by Penn State researchers found that some climate mitigation strategies could result in harmful health impacts in specific areas, particularly if significant land use changes are required for bioenergy production. This could lead to worsened respiratory and cardiovascular diseases, resulting in premature deaths.
A WVU researcher is creating mathematical models to predict how bioenergy crops enhance and store soil carbon, potentially spurring renewable energy from biological sources. The model considers factors like plant roots, microbes, and feedstocks to determine net carbon benefits or losses.
A new study by CABBI researchers has identified the types of microbes associated with engineered oilcane, revealing diverse microbial associations that could increase oil yields for sustainable bioenergy production. The findings suggest that plant-microbial interactions play a key role in determining the composition of the microbiome.
Scientists found a common plasminogen-apple-nematode domain in plants like poplar and willow that is also present in the human NRP1 receptor protein, which holds promise as a future therapeutic target for COVID-19 treatment. Mutating amino acids in this domain disrupted the virus's ability to invade cells.
Scientists have developed a DNA editing tool called SAGE that makes it easier and faster to engineer microbes for various applications. The technology revolutionizes the process of modifying microbes, allowing researchers to advance fundamental biology and bioengineering.
Researchers at Oak Ridge National Laboratory identified specific proteins that regulate plant-microbe signaling, enabling plants to distinguish beneficial microbes from disease-causing ones. This breakthrough could accelerate gene function identification and improve crop performance in sustainable bioenergy crops.
Researchers at CABBI designed a new wastewater treatment process that simultaneously treats water and recovers biogas, reducing capital costs and energy usage. The process efficiently converts organic contaminants to biogas, achieving simultaneous energy recovery and wastewater treatment.
The Center for Bioenergy Innovation has been renewed with $590 million in funding over five years to develop sustainable jet fuel from nonfood biomass crops and specialty processes. The center aims to reach Tier 1 validation of its jet biofuel, reducing carbon dioxide emissions from commercial aircraft.
The DOE has committed $237.9 million to the Center for Advanced Bioenergy and Bioproducts Innovation (CABBI) for a five-year extension, continuing groundbreaking work toward U.S. energy independence. Researchers will develop fuels and products by integrating three highly interconnected priority areas.
Researchers produced biogas from apple pomace, reducing greenhouse gas emissions and generating electricity and heat. The bioenergy recovery can supply 19% of the anaerobic reactor's energy needs, contributing to public policy and cutting fossil fuel consumption.