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Story tips from the Department of Energy's Oak Ridge National Laboratory, September 2019

Researchers at Oak Ridge National Laboratory developed a predictive model to identify veterans at risk of suicide, accelerating the process by running 300 times faster. Additionally, they discovered a lubricant that reduces friction in gears, increasing durability and efficiency. These breakthroughs aim to improve healthcare services f...

SourceDOE/Oak Ridge National Laboratory·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateSep 4, 2019

Supercapacitors turbocharged by laxatives

A team of scientists from the University of Bristol and MIT has designed a new class of highly efficient ionic liquid electrolytes that can improve supercapacitor performance. These detergent-like electrolytes can self-assemble into sandwich-like bilayer structures on electrode surfaces, leading to improved energy storage capabilities.

SourceUniversity of Bristol·JournalNature Materials·DateAug 12, 2019

Upcycling process brings new life to old jeans

Researchers have developed an efficient and low-cost method to convert waste denim into reusable cotton fibers, reducing textile waste and conserving resources. The new process uses a 1:4 mixture of ionic liquid and DMSO to dissolve cellulose building blocks, resulting in white or colored viscose-type fibers.

SourceAmerican Chemical Society·JournalACS Sustainable Chemistry & Engineering·DateJun 19, 2019

Creating a 2-D platinum magnet

Researchers have induced magnetism in platinum with an electric field created by a paramagnetic ionic liquid, creating a switchable 2D ferromagnet. This breakthrough could lead to the development of devices that can simultaneously control charge and spin.

SourceUniversity of Groningen·JournalScience Advances·DateApr 6, 2018

A gel that does not break or dry out

Researchers at Kobe University created a double network within ionic liquid, combining inorganic silica particles with organic polymers, resulting in a gel that can withstand over 25 MPa of compressive strength. The gel's stability makes it suitable for applications in CO2 separation membranes and rechargeable batteries.

SourceKobe University·JournalAdvanced Materials·DateNov 8, 2017

Novel route to polyamide 6: Catalytic oxidation of cyclohexane with ferrocene in ionic liquid medium

Researchers have developed a novel route to produce polyamide 6 by catalytically oxidizing cyclohexane with ferrocene in an ionic liquid medium. The process is highly selective and efficient, achieving over 98% selectivity and high turnover frequencies. This method has the potential to replace traditional industrial production processes.

SourceBentham Science Publishers·JournalLetters in Organic Chemistry·DateSep 26, 2017

Composite material for water purification

The researchers developed a multifunctional composite material that can remove inorganic, organic, radioactive, and microbial impurities from water. The material, called SILP, uses polyoxometallates and tetraalkylammonium cations to effectively remove heavy metals and other contaminants.

SourceWiley·JournalAngewandte Chemie International Edition·DateJan 13, 2017

Cheaper, faster, more accurate method to quantify water in solid pharmaceutical drugs

Chemists at the University of Texas at Arlington have developed a new method to quantify water content in solid pharmaceutical drugs, which is faster, cheaper, and more accurate than Karl Fischer titration. The new method uses headspace gas chromatography with ionic liquids and can analyze samples in just 10 minutes.

SourceUniversity of Texas at Arlington·JournalJournal of Pharmaceutical Sciences·DateAug 1, 2016

At attention, molecules!

Researchers at the University of Iowa found that molecules in ionic liquids reassemble without being prodded, taking time to complete. The team discovered a much thicker interfacial layer than previously known, with some layers reaching 1 micron thick.

SourceUniversity of Iowa·JournalLangmuir·DateMay 17, 2016

One-stop shop for biofuels

Researchers at Joint BioEnergy Institute developed a high-gravity one-pot process for producing cellulosic ethanol, achieving unprecedented yields while minimizing water use and waste disposal. The process utilizes ionic liquid pretreatment, enzymatic saccharification, and yeast fermentation.

SourceDOE/Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory·JournalEnergy & Environmental Science·DateJan 19, 2016

Bionic liquids from lignin

Researchers at JBEI have developed bionic liquids from lignin and hemicellulose, which can efficiently dissolve biomass and represent a renewable platform for biomass pretreatment. The new liquids outperform current imidazolium-based ionic liquids in terms of sugar yields, making them a significant step towards cost-competitive biofuels.

SourceDOE/Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateAug 18, 2014

New UT Arlington research could improve pharmaceuticals testing

Researchers at UT Arlington have developed a new method for measuring water content in pharmaceuticals that is up to 100 times more sensitive than current methods. The new technique uses headspace gas chromatography and an ionic liquid column, offering improvements in sensitivity, accuracy, and sample size requirements.

SourceUniversity of Texas at Arlington·JournalJournal of Pharmaceutical and Biomedical Analysis·DateApr 30, 2014

Lawrence Livermore scientists discover bacterial resistance to improve biofuel production

Researchers at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory have identified a type of bacterial resistance that enables more efficient production of advanced biofuels. The discovery involves introducing a genetic module into E. coli bacteria, allowing them to grow in the presence of toxic concentrations of ionic liquids.

SourceDOE/Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory·JournalNature Communications·DateMar 26, 2014

Resistance is not futile

Researchers at Joint BioEnergy Institute have successfully introduced a pair of genes into E. coli bacteria to confer tolerance to ionic liquids, enhancing the production of terpene-based biofuels. This breakthrough could eliminate a bottleneck in biofuels production and pave the way for more economical fermentation conditions.

SourceDOE/Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory·JournalNature Communications·DateMar 26, 2014

New advance in biofuel production

Joint BioEnergy Institute researchers have made a breakthrough in biofuel production by developing an enzyme-free ionic liquid pre-treatment method. This technique reduces the cost of producing advanced biofuels and decreases water consumption, making it a more sustainable alternative to traditional methods.

SourceDOE/Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory·JournalBiotechnology for Biofuels·DateMay 9, 2013

Biofuels blend right in

A collaborative study by researchers with the U.S. Department of Energy has shown that an ionic liquid proven to be effective for pre-treating individual biofuel feedstocks is also effective at pre-treating multiple different feedstocks that have been mixed and densified into a blend. The study found that blending and densifying a wide...

Scientists find gold-plated fossil solution

Researchers at the University of Leicester have discovered a method to safely remove gold plating from fossils without damaging them. This innovative technique uses industrial electro-plating and polishing methods with liquid salts called 'ionic liquids', which are environmentally friendly and cost-effective.

SourceUniversity of Leicester·JournalPalaeontologia Electronica·DateMay 22, 2012

Microbe that can handle ionic liquids

Researchers at JBEI have identified a tropical rainforest microbe that can endure relatively high concentrations of an ionic liquid used to dissolve cellulosic biomass. The discovery holds broad implications beyond the production of advanced biofuels, offering a potential solution to reduce biofuel production costs.

SourceDOE/Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateMay 14, 2012

Lawrence Livermore work may improve the efficiency of the biofuel production cycle

Researchers from Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory have discovered a bacterium that can tolerate toxic chemicals used in biofuel production, allowing for more efficient processing. This breakthrough has the potential to greatly benefit industrial processes and improve the efficiency of biofuel production.

SourceDOE/Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateMay 14, 2012

E. coli bacteria engineered to eat switchgrass and make transportation fuels

Researchers at the Joint BioEnergy Institute have successfully engineered E. coli bacteria to digest switchgrass biomass and synthesize its sugars into all three major transportation fuels: gasoline, diesel, and jet fuel. This breakthrough reduces fuel production costs by consolidating two steps into one, enabling a single-step operation.

SourceDOE/Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateNov 29, 2011