Archives

December 2, 2016

Weekly Roundup of Other Biobased News

?   Department of Energy, “Fact Sheet: Obama Administration Announces New Financing For Renewable Energy Projects and Actions to Spur Innovation and Promote Energy Access Globally”    ?   Department of Agriculture, “USDA Resumes Incentives to Grow the Bioeconomy and Improve Forest Health”   ?   Iowa State University, “Iowa State University Scientists Explore Environmental Advantages of Horticultural Bioplastics”    ?...
November 4, 2016

Weekly Roundup of Other Biobased News

?   BioPilotsUK, “Landmark Alliance Launched to Support the Growth of the UK Bioeconomy”   ?   The Prowers Journal, “National USDA Official Highlights Biofuels Investments in Colorado”   ?   UDaily, “Biofuel Breakthrough:  PNAS Paper Reports New Approach to Methanol Utilization”   ?   MSU News Service, “MSU Awarded Grant to Research Biofuel, Carbon Capture Technologies For Upper Missouri River Basin”...
October 28, 2016

IBioIC Announces Recipients Of £3 Million In Funding For Synthetic Biology Projects

On October 17, 2016, the Industrial Biotechnology Innovation Centre (IBioIC) announced over £3 million in investments over six synthetic biology projects.  IBioIC was founded by Ingenza Ltd, GlaxoSmithKline plc (GSK), and INEOS to connect academic expertise in synthetic biology with industrial capabilities from businesses in the area.  IBioIC focuses on biotechnology in health, industrial, agriculture, and marine areas.  Recipients of the £3 million in funding are:...
September 2, 2016

University Of Michigan Researcher Publishes Controversial Study That Finds Gasoline Produces Fewer C

On August 25, 2016, researchers at the University of Michigan, led by research professor John M. DeCicco, Ph.D., published "Carbon balance effects of U.S. biofuel production and use," a study examining the impact of biofuel production on carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions. The study, funded in part by the American Petroleum Institute, examined USDA crop-production data and determined that the increasing use of biofuels has resulted in a net increase of CO2 emissions, with only 37...
July 22, 2016

DOE Announces $15 Million In Funding For Algae-Based Biofuels And Bioproducts Research Projects

On July 14, 2016, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), announced $15 million in funding for three projects that will work to improve algal biomass yields to reduce production costs of algae-based biofuels and bioproducts. The projects include Global Algae Innovations (San Diego, California), Algenol Biotech LLC (Ft. Myers, Florida), and MicroBio Engineering, Inc. (San Luis Obispo, California). These projects will coordinate algae strain improvements through harvesting, dewatering, and downstream...
March 18, 2016

Weekly Roundup of Other Biobased News

? MIT Energy Initiative, "MIT Researchers Turn Waste Gas into Liquid Fuel" ? Comet Biorefining, "Comet Biorefining Awarded $10.9 Million SDTC Grant for Bio-Based Chemicals Plant" ? IFAS News, "UF/IFAS Scientists Closer to Finding Key to Converting Algae to Biofuel" ? United Airlines, "United Airlines Makes History With Launch of Regularly Scheduled Flights Using Sustainable Biofuel" ? BE-Basic, "BE-Basic And CLIB Agree to Increase Partnerships to...
October 9, 2015

DOE-Funded Algae Foundation Education Initiative Announced

On October 2, 2015, at the 2015 Algae Biomass Organization Summit, the Algae Foundation announced a U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) funded education initiative to enhance algae workforce development. The Algae Foundation is a non-profit organization committed to expanding the algae industry though research, education, and outreach, and plays an important part in advancing the bioeconomy beyond ethanol. The DOE-funded initiative will focus on developing a college degree in algal cultivation...
September 30, 2015

EPA Releases Final Comprehensive Environmental Assessment Applied to MWCNTs in Flame-Retardant Coatings in Upholstery Textiles

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) posted on September 30, 2013, a final report entitled Comprehensive Environmental Assessment Applied to Multiwalled Carbon Nanotube Flame-Retardant Coatings in Upholstery Textiles: A Case Study Presenting Priority Research Gaps for Future Risk Assessments. The final report presents a case study of multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNT) used in flame-retardant coatings applied to upholstery textiles. EPA states that the case study is organized...
July 17, 2015

DOE Accepting Nominations For Biomass Research And Development Technical Advisory Committee

On July 15, 2015, DOE posted a solicitation notice for candidates for the Biomass Research and Development Technical Advisory Committee. According to the notice, DOE is specifically looking for candidates with experience in biobased industrial/commercial products, non-federal government engineers or scientists, academia with expertise in biofuel and biobased products, and experts in crop or soil science. Candidates with other experience can also be nominated. Nominations should be submitted by...
May 8, 2015

Biomass Technical Advisory Committee Announces Public Meeting

The U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE) Biomass Research and Development Technical Advisory Committee published a notice in the April 30, 2015, Federal Register announcing an open meeting that will provide advice and guidance on promoting research and development leading to the production of biobased fuels and biobased products. The meeting will include updates on U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and DOE biomass activities, updates on the Biomass Research and Development Initiative, an...