7 March 20244 March 2024 Chitosan: A bioplastics breakthrough Upon seeing the potential in chitosan, The Moores Research Group from McGill's University in Canada developed a biodegradable polymer that is derived from chitin from green crabs
2 September 202222 August 2022 Billions pour into bioplastics as markets begin ramping up In a world increasingly troubled by the persistent harm that plastic — manufactured in petrochemical plants — has had on the environment, companies are investing billions of dollars to ramp up production of plastics made from natural, renewable materials that can be safely composted or can biodegrade under the right conditions
20 July 202215 July 2022 Solar-powered chemistry uses carbon dioxide and water to make feedstock for fuels, chemicals Producing synthesis gas, a precursor of a variety of fuels and chemicals, no longer requires natural gas, coal or biomass
1 July 202223 June 2022 Natürlicher Superkleber aus heimischen Mistelbeeren Material auf Zellulosebasis könnte in der Biomedizin Anwendung finden
A biological super glue from mistletoe berries? Abundant, biodegradable and bio renewable plant holds promising possibilities
30 June 202227 June 2022 Unilever & Genomatica’s palm oil alternatives, biobased World Cup soccer balls, mistletoe as natural glue, and more: The Digest’s Top 8 Innovations for the week of June 23rd In today’s Digest, check out these bioinnovations as well as mistletoe being used as natural glue, soybean based putting greens, and more…
11 January 20216 January 2021 Cellulose-based dispersants and flocculants A new review article provides insight into the engineering pathways, the structural frameworks, and surface chemistry of “green” types of dispersants and flocculants
18 March 202014 March 2020 Making straws that don’t suck for the environment Straws made from cellulose, the major component of trees and plants, don't lose their shape or collapse in on themselves when in use
5 March 20202 March 2020 Invasive green crab at Keji seaside could soon become biodegradable plastic Invasive green crabs that have caused major problems for native species could, ironically, be the latest solution to reducing plastic pollution in the ocean
17 January 20209 September 2021 Using CO2 as an industrial feedstock could change the world. Here’s how We need to actively remove excess CO2 from the atmosphere. The question then becomes: what do we do with the carbon that is removed?
23 May 201918 May 2019 The reinvention of bio-plastics: New kids on the block Bio-plastics industry is looking into the use of non-food crops (2nd and 3rd-generation feedstock), such as cellulose, with a view to develop new materials
28 February 201928 February 2019 Ultraviolet light could provide a powerful new source of green fuel McGill University researchers report they’ve created a potentially cheap way to use sunlight to convert methanol to ethanol
25 February 201919 February 2019 The Government of Canada invests in innovation to help grow Canada’s bioeconomy New biomass research cluster will drive innovation and help improve technologies for processing agricultural biomass
18 January 201816 January 2018 Using DNA strands to design new polymer materials Researchers describe a method to create asymmetrical polymer particles that bind together in a spatially defined manner
1 February 20179 September 2021 Canadian scientists turn carbon-dioxide emissions into useful products Here’s a look at some of the Canadian semifinalists of the the NRG COSIA Carbon XPrize
7 October 20165 October 2016 Governments urged to end expensive emissions-reduction policies Canada’s Ecofiscal Commission recommends letting biofuels stand on their own, without support from government subsidies
22 June 201615 February 2018 Murray McLaughlin, Bioindustrial Innovation: Canada is working on a bioeconomy strategy In this Interview Murray McLaughlin talks about bioeconomy in Canada, climate change, biomass, Green public procurement, carbon tax and other policies
8 March 20167 March 2016 Major scientific breakthrough with the creation of the first biological supercomputer Researchers from the EU-funded ABACUS project have created a model biological supercomputer that is both sustainable and highly energy efficient
23 October 201521 October 2015 The airlines: who’s doing what in aviation biofuels? Who’s a Major Player, who’s a Pioneer, who’s committed, who’s monitoring the space as a stakeholder? We look at 45 airlines and their efforts in bringing low-carbon fuels to the marketplace
29 August 2012 Study offers new hope for increasing global food production, reducing environmental impact of agriculture Just-released Nature paper shows more strategic use of nutrients and water on a global scale could boost production 45 to 70 percent for most crops