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Petrochemicals – News and Features

Bacteria and molecules.
News

Engineering Bacteria to Produce Green Chemicals from Methanol

Methanol can be synthesised from carbon dioxide and water using renewable energy. When this green methanol is metabolised by specialised bacteria, a variety of chemical substances can be biotechnologically produced.
A windfarm.
News

Wind Farms More Land Efficient Than Previously Thought

Decision-makers have been reluctant to invest in wind energy due to a perception that wind farms require a lot of land compared to electric power plants driven by fossil fuels. Research led by McGill University paints a very different picture.
A pile of grain used in brewing.
News

Researchers Extract Protein From Spent Beer Grains

Researchers have created a method that extracts over 80 percent of the available protein in grain leftovers from brewing beer, helping to reduce waste.
A scientist in a lab.
News

Researchers Discover Path to More Environmentally Friendly Plastics

FAMU-FSU College of Engineering researchers have created a potential alternative to traditional petroleum-based plastic that is made from carbon dioxide (CO2) and lignin, a component of wood that is a low-cost byproduct of paper manufacturing and biofuel production.
A fractured stick of lactic acid with added ultra-high molecular weight LAHB and a stick of pure polylactic acid.
News

Engineered Bacteria Produce Biodegradable Plastic

Engineered bacteria can produce a plastic modifier that makes renewably sourced plastic more processable, more fracture resistant and highly biodegradable even in sea water.
A tree in a field.
News

Method Developed To Make Common Painkiller From Trees

Scientists at the University of Wisconsin–Madison have developed a cost-effective and environmentally sustainable way to make a popular pain reliever and other valuable products from plants instead of petroleum.
An image of tert-butane, the simplest quaternary carbon.
News

A New, Cost-Effective Method for Producing Quaternary Carbon Molecules

The active ingredient in many drugs is what’s known as a small molecule: bigger than water, much smaller than an antibody and mainly made of carbon. Scripps scientists have uncovered a potential cost-effective way to produce these tricky motifs.
Microplastics in the ocean.
News

Plant-Based Plastic Releases Nine Times Fewer Microplastics Than Conventional Plastic

A newly developed plant-based plastic material releases nine times less microplastics than conventional plastic when exposed to sunlight and seawater, a new study has found.
The bacteria grown and dyed wallet.
News

Plastic-Free Vegan Leather That Dyes Itself Grown From Bacteria

In recent years, scientists and companies have started using microbes to grow sustainable textiles or to make dyes for industry – but this is the first time bacteria have been engineered to produce a material and its own pigment simultaneously.
A scientist holding up a vial.
News

To Capture Methane Emissions, Scientists Create Nanoshell Catalysts

A University at Buffalo-led research team is developing new catalysts that aim to turn climate-warming methane emissions into useful commercial products.
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