Articles tagged with Biomass
Researchers propose a coordinated response plan to study the impacts of biomass burning and haze on Southeast Asian marine ecosystems. The study aims to gather baseline information to inform effective management of threatened marine ecosystems in the region.
New research suggests the UK can produce up to 44% of its energy needs from biomass sources like household waste and agricultural residues. The study highlights the potential for biomass resources to contribute significantly to the country's renewable energy targets.
Researchers have discovered that ocean mesopelagic fish biomass is at least 10 times higher than estimated, with significant implications for the planet's biogeochemical cycles. These deep-sea fish play a crucial role in transporting CO2 to the ocean floor and increasing oxygen consumption.
A team of scientists from Australia and Panama examined the reproductive mechanisms of Saccharum spontaneum to develop better management strategies. The study found that cutting stems into smaller pieces can help prevent flowering and seed dispersal, while timing management actions during specific seasons can also be effective.
A new offset round-bale unroller design has been deemed effective in making mulching more efficient, particularly with organic mulches. The technology allows for better between-row weed control and can be used with various types of mulches.
Researchers found that biomass pellets released lower levels of mercury when burned, reducing environmental concerns. The study suggests that switching to biomass pellets could be an effective way to decrease mercury emissions in China.
A complete genomic analysis of sorghum reveals its potential for alternative uses beyond grain production. Researchers hope to apply the findings to other feedstocks like miscanthus and sugarcane, while improving drought-resistant lines for food and fuel applications.
High crop species richness suppresses pest populations, indicating a positive relationship between crop diversity and biological control. The study found that crop diversity enhances the natural enemy-pest ratio, leading to improved pest control on EMS using microlandscape.
A University of Illinois study proposes a contract framework to outline expectations for sustainability practices in biomass crops. The framework aims to designate who will assume the risks and costs associated with these new perennial energy crops, promoting a more stable and sustainable supply.
A recent study found that the concentration of essential oil in Rocky Mountain juniper leaves varies from 0.335% to 0.799% and is affected by seasonal changes and tree gender, with male trees generally having higher oil content.
A new EBI study concludes that biofuels from plant biomass and purpose-grown crops can substantially reduce greenhouse gas emissions in California. The report highlights the importance of judicious use of feedstocks and implementation of low-carbon technologies to meet the state's ambitious energy goals.
Researchers develop activated biocarbon to adsorb naphthenic acids, preventing methane gas release. The technology has the potential to significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions from the oilsands industry.
The High-Throughput Analytical Pyrolysis (HTAP) tool from NREL can analyze hundreds of biomass samples daily, providing early insights into ideal plant genes. This accelerated method reduces the time required to analyze a sample from two weeks to just two minutes.
Protection of marine areas from fishing significantly increases fish density and biomass. Even partial protection yields a 50% increase in biomass for target species like lobsters and scallops. However, the success of marine protection depends on its size and management style.
Research suggests a significant link between reduced biomass smoke pollution and decreased all-cause mortality, particularly among men. A study in Tasmania found that interventions to reduce wood heater use led to a 40% decrease in particulate air pollution and a 22.8% reduction in respiratory mortality for males alone.
A new study in the Bering Sea found that predator-prey relationships prioritize prey density over total biomass. This discovery challenges conventional management methods, which often rely on biomass data.
Scientists discovered a reaction site on the perimeter of gold-titanium complex that enables catalysis. The oxide surface plays an important role in modifying the metals above it, leading to the creation of valuable hydrocarbon fuels.
Researchers have developed 'nanobowls' to shield metal catalysts from harsh conditions during biofuel refining. The nanoscale structures can be tailored to enhance functionality and specificity, showing promise for improving the efficiency of biofuel conversion.
A recent study by a German-US science team estimates that there is about 4 billion tons of carbon stored in subseafloor microbes, reducing the total amount of carbon stored in living organisms by about one third. This new finding challenges previous estimates based on drill cores taken in nutrient-rich areas.
A comprehensive review of biomass feedstock characterization is crucial for developing biotechnology approaches to bioenergy and bioproducts. Researchers describe formulation, pretreatment, and densification options to improve biomass specifications for co-firing high percentages with coal.
A study estimated the total mass of the human population, defining its distribution by region and proportion due to overweight and obesity. The world's biomass would increase by 58 million tonnes if all countries had the same average BMI as the USA, equivalent to an additional 935 million people.
A new process creates high-energy biofuel from biomass, with potential to be economically viable when crude oil is around $100 per barrel. The method has significant advantages over traditional methods and could become even more economical with a federal carbon tax.
A new study reveals that just a handful of heavyweight trees per acre are responsible for nearly half the biomass in a temperate forest, highlighting their crucial role in photosynthesis and carbon sequestration. The research found that these large trees can dominate even when dead, with snags accounting for 60% of total biomass.
Scientists at Ben-Gurion University have created bioreactors that increase microalgae biomass yields dramatically. The innovative design, which synchronizes photosynthesis with flow patterns and illumination, has the potential to make microalgae an economically viable source of renewable energy.
A recent study by USDA Forest Service researchers found that removing the invasive Tamaligi tree greatly improves the health of its diverse native forests in American Samoa. Native tree species quickly recover and persist after control efforts, while biomass levels are restored to equivalent pre-invasion levels.
A life cycle assessment study reveals that bioethanol from energy crops has considerable potential to render society more sustainable by substituting gasoline. The study's findings suggest that regional biomass utilization systems can significantly reduce fossil fuel resources and greenhouse gas emissions.
A new logistics model for biofuel raw materials is proposed by MSU researchers, utilizing regional biomass processing depots to process feedstocks before shipping to refineries. This approach aims to reduce transportation costs and distances, while providing economic benefits to farmers who own part of the depots.
The study highlights the human cost of biomass burning, with over 2 million premature deaths in 2005, and the environmental impact on deforestation and greenhouse gas emissions. The research agenda proposes cleaner cooking fuels and technologies to improve access and adoption.
A new study found that lemmings can promote greening in the Arctic by increasing grass and sedge biomass, which could tip the climate either way. The researchers suggest that lemming populations play a key role in regulating tundra ecosystems, potentially maintaining them as carbon sinks.
A new study published in Science journal challenges the long-held hypothesis that a relationship exists between plant biomass production and the number of coexisting plant species. The research, led by Iowa State University scientists, found no evidence to support this correlation, contrary to decades of previous studies.
The researchers have received two grants to further develop the steam hydrogasification process that turns waste from food, yards, and other sources into transportation fuels or natural gas. The process has been found to be 12% more efficient and 18% less expensive than other mainstream gasification technologies.
Scientists have discovered a pretreatment method that makes plant cellulose five times more digestible by enzymes, enabling the production of ethanol from biomass. This breakthrough could make biomass an economically viable contender in the biofuels arena.
A new method for measuring biomass reveals that fish stocks are more stable than widely believed, with only 12% collapsed and 26% overexploited. The study suggests that biomass data can ground truth catch trends, revealing biases in catch data estimates.
Short rotation energy crops on England's unused land could produce enough biomass to meet UK's renewable energy targets without disrupting the food industry or environment. This study found that efficient land use can generate approximately four percent of current UK electricity demand from these crops.
The USDA Forest Service and University of Florida have published a new book detailing the viability of using wood as an energy source in southern wildland-urban interface areas. The book provides recent research on woody biomass production, conversion to energy, and economic analysis of bioenergy development.
A meta-analysis of 400 published experiments reveals that species loss at the producer level reduces ecosystem productivity and sustainability. The study found that diverse communities are more productive and efficient than their average species, with some even outperforming the single best species in a monoculture. Loss of plant diver...
Scientists have largely met technical challenges of developing biofuels, offering energy security and reduced carbon dioxide emissions. However, logistics issues with biomass availability, transport, and storage hinder commercial viability.
Researchers found a genetic mutation in Arabidopsis thaliana that reduces stomata, conserving water while maintaining carbon dioxide intake. The mutant plant exhibits 20% reduced transpiration and increased drought tolerance.
Scientists studied ice cores to find evidence of biomass burning fluctuations in Southern Hemisphere. Biomass burning trends differ from Northern Hemisphere records, suggesting changes for climate models.
Researchers at Purdue University are working on a project to develop a system for generating large quantities of synthetic fuel from agricultural wastes, other biomass or coal. The goal is to create a sustainable synthetic fuel economy by reducing carbon dioxide emissions and increasing the yield of liquid fuel.
Researchers at Arizona State University have improved cyanobacteria growth conditions for biofuel production, enabling high biomass yields and efficient CO2 utilization. The findings provide a vital foundation for optimizing photobioreactor technology.
A new microbial genetic system has been developed to dissect biomass to biofuel conversion, allowing for the efficient extraction of sugar molecules from biomass polymers. This breakthrough enables researchers to study the functional significance of specific enzymes and understand how microorganisms carry out the complex process of pla...
Scientists at Oak Ridge National Laboratory have identified a key gene for improving the conversion process of cellulosic biomass into ethanol. The modified microorganism shows enhanced efficiency and potential use for more cost-effective biofuel production, overcoming current pretreatment challenges.
A three-year study found that cover crops significantly reduced erosion and runoff in maize cropping systems, with a residual effect lasting up to two years. The research suggests that burying sufficient cover crop biomass into the soil can reduce erosion rates by 40-90% lower than rough tillage.
This study investigates the impact of landscape position on biomass crop yield, finding that summit positions produce higher yields than flat areas. Corn stover yield is positively influenced by terrain slope, nitrogen, and soil darkness profile.
A new miscanthus rhizome root harvester and planter will be unveiled at the Bioenergy Feedstocks Symposium, reducing harvesting and planting costs by 50%. The Rizomgen Harvester/Planter package has shown a 200% increase in rhizome collection over manual systems.
Two UNH assistant professors, Vaughn Cooper and Christopher White, received NSF CAREER grants to explore beneficial mutations in bacteria and the flow dynamics of liquefied biomass. Their research has implications for understanding adaptation, evolution, and sustainable energy solutions.
The NOAA survey found high numbers of juvenile sea scallops and ocean quahogs on Georges Bank, while recruitment in the Mid-Atlantic was weaker than expected. Biomass remained high, but declined in certain areas, such as the Elephant Trunk rotational area.
Researchers found that bioelectricity produces 80% more transportation miles and double greenhouse gas offsets than ethanol, making it a more efficient alternative. The study also found that bioelectricity can help mitigate climate change by preventing or offsetting up to 10 tons of CO2 per acre
A study published in Science found that biomass converted into electricity produces 81% more transportation miles and 108% more emissions offsets compared to ethanol. This means vehicles powered by electricity get further down the road, making it a more efficient solution for transportation and climate policy.
Researchers at University of Wisconsin-Madison developed a two-step method to convert cellulose in raw biomass into a promising biofuel. The new process simultaneously bypasses lignin and produces a high yield, making it a promising alternative to fossil fuels.
A new study uses airborne technology to track changes in Big Island tropical forests, revealing how climate and invasive species affect carbon stocks. The research finds that fast-growing invaders decrease biomass levels, while slower-growing species increase biomass stocks.
A study finds that eliminating smoking and solid fuel use in China could prevent millions of deaths from chronic diseases. Gradual elimination or moderate-aggressive interventions could avoid 26-31 million COPD deaths and 6.3 million lung cancer deaths by 2033.
Researchers have developed a new catalyst that directly converts cellulose into ethylene glycol, an important intermediate product for the chemical industry. The catalyst, made of tungsten carbide and nickel on a carbon support, achieves 100% conversion of cellulose with high selectivity.
Social spiders have developed a unique foraging strategy that enables them to capture larger prey despite declining individual catch rates with colony size. This efficiency allows colonies to thrive in tropical areas but dwindle in higher elevations and latitudes.
Researchers found that Miscanthus can produce about 2.5 times the amount of ethanol per acre compared to corn, requiring only 9.3% of current agricultural acreage to meet the US biofuels production goal. Miscanthus also accumulates more carbon in the soil than annual crops like corn and soybeans.
A study published in Nature shows that parasites have substantial biomass in ecosystems, sometimes exceeding that of top predators by a factor of 20. This challenges the long-held assumption that free-living organisms like fish and birds dominate biomass in habitats.
A Stanford study reveals that reviving abandoned agricultural land for biofuel production could ease the global energy crunch without exacerbating food shortages or climate change. The researchers estimate up to 1-1.2 billion acres of fallow cropland globally, with potential for biomass energy conversion.
John Todd's proposal outlines a four-stage recovery and development plan for Appalachia, using biological processes to restore degraded land and return atmospheric carbon to the soil. The plan aims to build a dynamic sustainable economic basis for lasting renewal and increase carbon storage in soils around the world.
A possible solution to the global carbon dioxide problem involves planting forests that can absorb CO2 through photosynthesis, then removing it by burial. This approach has been proposed as a realistic method to tackle the issue.