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News and Trendshttp://portal.acs.org/portal/acs/corg/content?_nfpb=true&_pageLabel=PP_ARTICLEMAIN&node_id=222&content_id=CNBP_024355&use_sec=true&sec_url_var=region1&__uuid= http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/03/100325131549.htm At the 239th National Meeting of the American Chemical Society (ACS) in San Francisco (USA), scientists from the Shanghai Jiaotong University (China) report the development of a new concept in artificial photosynthesis which could be harnessed "to exploit sustainable fuel resources". Dr. Tongxiang Fan (co-author of the study) "pointed out that using sunlight to split water into its components, hydrogen and oxygen, is one of the most promising and sustainable tactics to escape current dependence on coal, oil, and other traditional fuels". Hydrogen is in itself a green fuel because it produces only water on burning; no GHG (greenhouse gas) emissions are generated. Hydrogen could also be a stepping stone toward the production of other biofuels. The ACS website reports the method as follows: "The scientists first infiltrated the leaves of Anemone vitifolia - a plant native to China - with titanium dioxide (TiO2) in a two-step process. Using advanced spectroscopic techniques, the scientists were then able to confirm that the structural features in the leaf favorable for light harvesting were replicated in the new TiO2 structure. Excitingly, the AIL (artificial inorganic leaf) are eight times more active for hydrogen production than TiO2 that has not been 'biotemplated' in that fashion. AIL's also are more than three times as active as commercial photo-catalysts. Next, the scientists embedded nanoparticles of platinum into the leaf surface. Platinum, along with the nitrogen found naturally in the leaf, helps increase the activity of the artificial leaves by an additional factor of ten.".
http://journals.pepublishing.com/content/a8803gj211545g1k/?p=6f42825f8798478980548c94493c70de&pi=0 Scientists from the Center for Integrated Manufacturing Studies, Rochester Institute of Technology (New York, USA) recently reported the effects of E20 (20% ethanol in gasoline blends) on automobile tailpipe emissions, vehicle drivability, and maintenance of internal combustion engines. They used E20 in 10 older gasoline vehicles that were not designed for ethanol fuel mixtures. Vehicles that logged over 100,000 miles on E20 were analyzed regularly for tailpipe emissions (carbon monoxide and hydrocarbons) and overall wear and tear on the vehicle. Results showed that E20: (1) had average vehicle emission reductions (relative to conventional gasoline) of 23 percent for carbon monoxide and 13 percent reduction for hydrocarbon, (2) had no measurable stress on vehicle operation or mechanics were observed, and (3) showed no effect on driveability and maintenance. Driver comments were also reported to be "strongly positive". The team plans to continue working with Monroe County "to convert their entire conventional gasoline fleet to E20 and will provide additional analysis on the impact of ethanol on long-term vehicle durability". The complete study is published in the Proceedings of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, Part D: Journal of Automobile Engineering (URL above).. Energy Crops and Feedstocks for Biofuels Production
http://www.springerlink.com/content/t98073537g35m2m2/?p=67670268361144cb8f7ac63cd0f6c686&pi=0 Scientists from the Dhirubhai Ambani Life Sciences Center (India) investigated the conditions for efficient regeneration of the Jatropha curcas plant (a biodiesel energy crop) from immature embryos. Their findings are published in the journal, Plant Biotechnology Reports (URL above). The size of embryo was found to be critical for the establishment of callus. A good response of morphogenic callus induction (85.7%) and subsequent plant regeneration (70%) with the maximum number of plantlets (4.7/explant) on supplemented Murashige and Skoog's (MS) medium, was obtained when embryos of 1.1cm to 1.5 cm sizes (obtained from the fruits 6 weeks after pollination) were used. A higher frequency of callus induction (100%) and plant regeneration (90%) with the maximum number of plantlets, were obtained when the medium was supplemented with growth adjuvants, such as casein hydrolyzate, L-glutamine and copper sulphate. The rooted plants after acclimatization were reportedly transferred successfully to the field in different agro-climatic zones in India. The protocol was also found successful on five elite lines of J. curcas.. http://www.biomedcentral.com/1472-6750/10/23 Researchers from the Dhirubhai Ambani Life Sciences Center and the DuPont Knowledge Centre in India report the use of functional screens in microorganisms for the intial prospecting of novel genes expressed during stress in Jatropha curcas. The Jatropha plant is a well known biodiesel crop, and the identified stress genes can be utilized to enhance stress tolerance ability of the plant. The ultimate goal is to improve Jatropha productivity under stress conditions to benefit commercial plantations. The paper (published in the BMC Biotechnology journal) (URL above) describes the method as follows: "To identify genes expressed during salt tolerance, cDNA expression libraries were constructed from salt-stressed roots of J. curcas, regulated under the control of the yeast GAL1 system. Using a replica based screening, 20,000 yeast transformants were screened to identify transformants expressing heterologous gene sequences from J. curcas with enhanced ability to tolerate stress". The screen obtained 32 full length genes from Jatropha curcas that can confer abiotic stress tolerance. As part of the screening process, the conditions for salt stress in J. curcas was optimized, the salt stress parameters in yeast were defined, and three salt hypersensitive yeast strains were isolated. The authors say that the approach "provides a rapid and universal assay system for large scale screening of genes for varied abiotic stress tolerance within a short span of time". More details can be obtained from the free access article (URL above).. Biofuels Processing
http://asae.frymulti.com/abstract.asp?aid=29487&t=1 A recent study by Purdue University (USA) scientists shows that "biofuels processors who mill switchgrass into fine bits to help its flowability should be able to save time, energy and money by not doing so". (Switchgrass, Panicum virgatum, is a potential lignocellulosic feedstock for biofuel ethanol production). The Purdue Universty study "investigated the particle size, particle size distribution, and morphological changes of three biofeedstocks (switchgrass, corn kernels, and soybean seeds) ground by hammer-milling through three screen sizes (6.4 mm, 3.2 mm, and 1.6 mm). They found out that "while [hammer-milled] corn and soybeans are round and spherical, switchgrass is shaped more like matchsticks, causing pieces to interlock and disrupt its ability to flow, according to Assistant Professor and co-researcher, Klein Ileleji. "Blockage" is reportedly not good in any biofuels processing facility. Switchgrass is not a good "flowable" feedstock, and grinding does not necessarily change its morphological characteristics that are important for flow. Assistant Professor Ileleji says that processors could save money if they can stop hammer-milling switchgrass when it fits through a 6.4 mm screen. Details of the study are published in the journal, Transactions of the ASABE (American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers) (URL above)..
http://www.biotechnologyforbiofuels.com/content/pdf/1754-6834-3-7.pdf Scientists from the University of Lund (Sweden) recently reported the stream pretreatment of sugar cane bagasse and leaves, while impregnating the materials with carbon dioxide gas. Sugar cane bagasse and leaves are lignocellulosic materials which can be converted to fuel ethanol, after pretreatment. Steam treatment is one thermal pretreatment method, where the lignocellulosic material is subjected to superheated steam at high temperature and pressure. The pretreatment removes the lignin wrapping off the biomass, while simultaneously breaking down the polymeric carbohydrates (i.e., cellulose, hemicellulose) into simple sugars for ethanol fermentation. Impregnating the lignocellulosic material with a gas (such as CO2) reportedly improves sugar yields. Results showed that sugar cane bagasse and leaves had different pretreatment conditions for maximum sugar yields. For bagasse, the highest glucose yield (86% of the theoretical) was obtained after steam pretreatment at 205oC for 15 minutes. For leaves, 92% of the theoretical glucose yield was obtained at 220oC for 5 minutes. The content of the impregnating gas (CO2) was the same for both materials (3% by weight). The complete paper can be accessed in the open access journal, Biotechnology for Biofuels (URL above).. Biofuels Policy and Economics
http://www.csiro.au/science/Sustainable-Aviation-Fuels-Road-Map.html The Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO, Australia's national science agency), together with stakeholders in the Australian aviation sector, are embarking on a study "to help plan a sustainable future for aviation fuels and reduce the sector's greenhouse gas emissions." Called the "Sustainable Aviation Fuels Road Map," the initiative will: (1) "articulate the pathways and challenges to accelerate the development and commercialisation of a sustainable aviation fuels industry in Australia and New Zealand", (2) "examine the barriers, opportunities and implications of producing bio-derived jet fuels at scale, including commercial viability, environmental sustainability, and alternative biomass feedstocks, and (3) "draw on the diverse expertise of the participants and use sophisticated economic modelling technology to map out future scenarios". By September 2010, the Initiative expects to release a public report that is designed to provide input to strategic policy and investment decision making for government and industry stakeholders. Participants of the Sustainable Aviation Fuels Roadmap include some commercial airlines from Australia and New Zealand, aircraft manufacturing companies, the Australian Defence Force, Biofuels Associations of Australia and New Zealand, The Climate Group, and the Victorian Department of Innovation and Regional Development..
http://www.rethinking2050.eu/ A report by the European Renewable Energy Council (EREC) maps out a "100% Renewable Energy Vision for the European Union". The report stresses the need for "courage" for the EU "to lead the way out of this climate and energy dilemma with a clear commitment to a 100% renewable energy future by 2050". Called "Rethinking 2050", the EREC report examines the effects on Europe's energy supply system and on CO2 emissions, while at the same time portraying the economic, environmental and social benefits of such a system. It presents a a "pathway towards a 100% renewable energy system for the EU". Among the highlights of the report (as mentioned by the bioenergy website) are: (1) different renewable energy technologies can contribute to a fully sustainable energy supply by 2050 provided there is strong political, public and economic support for all renewable energy technologies, (2) renewable energy deployment by 2020 will reduce annual energy related CO2 emissions by about 1,200 Megatons against 1990 emissions, (3) the EU would be able to reduce its energy related CO2 emissions by more than 90 per cent; the reduction would result in an additional total CO2 benefit in 2050 of €3,800 billion, (4) to achieve 100% renewable energy supply, a "clear-cut and consistent matrix of measures must be put in place, among which are: effective and full implementation of the new RES Directive (2009) in all EU-27-member States, binding renewable energy targets by 2030, hybrid energy solutions/virtual power plants, and new transport solutions and 2050 Smart Cities. The full report can be obtained from the EU's Rethinking2050 website (URL above).. |
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