Michigan State University - Renewable Carbon News

Renewable Carbon News
Michigan State University

8 August 20246 August 2024

Next Stage of AGC Vinythai Collaboration with Michigan State University and allnex in Bio-based Epoxy Coating Development

To increase the bio-based content of coatings and epoxy resins, AGC Vinythai worked with Prof. Nejad to explore the use of lignin as a bisphenol A (BPA) substitute for epoxy resin formulations

31 July 202425 July 2024

Biodegradable plastic exists – but it’s not cheap

Several new projects turn waste into food for microbes that create PHA, a type of plastic that fully decomposes on its own, offering a less costly alternative to current bioplastics

16 January 20249 January 2024

Glitter has a microplastics problem. One company says it has the solution

Like the Ronald Britton team decided Germany’s Sigmund Lindner to replace plastic with regenerated cellulose and reconstitute it into a clear film, which is then coated with a thin layer of aluminum and color

19 September 202314 September 2023

Table salt could be the secret ingredient for better recycling

MSU research shows sodium chloride offers a safe, inexpensive and reusable pathway to recovering useful products from plastic waste

Kochsalz könnte die geheime Zutat für besseres Chemikalienrecycling sein

Natriumchlorid als Schlüssel zur Revolution im Kunststoffrecycling?

23 August 202321 August 2023

MSU School of Packaging researchers make a sustainable plastic more compostable

Researchers led by Rafael Auras in the Michigan State University School of Packaging have shown how to make a bio-based polymer compostable in both home and industrial settings

15 August 202310 August 2023

Making bioplastics that are easier to compost

MSU research shows how putting starch into a bio-based polymer can make it more compostable, helping divert plastic waste

16 December 202213 December 2022

U-M team recycles previously unrecyclable plastic

Researchers discovered a way to chemically recycle PVC into usable material

4 October 202228 September 2022

Wind turbine blades could someday be recycled into sweet treats

A new resin can hold fiberglass wind turbines together for years and then be recycled into valuable products, making green energy even greener

Windradflügel könnten eines Tages zu Süßigkeiten recycelt werden

Neues Rotorblattmaterial durch Kombination von Glasfasern mit einem pflanzlichen und einem synthetischen Polymer

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

14 June 20229 June 2022

Capturing carbon with crops, trees and bioenergy

MSU researchers find an integrated approach to land management practices can reduce carbon dioxide in the atmosphere far more than earlier estimates

14 March 20228 March 2022

NREL Bioengineering Process Prepares To Make a Splash

Renewables To Replace Petroleum-Based Materials in Commercial Filtration Systems

15 February 202214 February 2022

Answering Burning Question on Biochar

Biochar is similar to charcoal and can be added to soil with the goal of improving its quality. It can help increase nutrient and water retention. However, what happens in soil impacts fungi and plants that live there, and it is not always clear how they will react to biochar

3 March 20202 March 2020

Optimizing Co-Product Production: The Digest’s 2020 Multi-Slide Guide to Alkaline-Oxidative Pretreatment of Woody Biomass

Eric L. Hegg from Michigan State University, shared the latest research developments on how they are optimizing their two-stage alkaline-oxidative deconstruction process

20 February 202017 February 2020

Consumers confused by distinction between biobased and biodegradable plastics

Global survey shows "consumer attitudes have reached a tipping point, leading them to avoid brands that don’t prioritize sustainability and environmental issues"

16 October 201914 October 2019

Researcher: Biobased, biodegradable polymers may not be as eco-friendly as you think

Just because a product is biobased doesn't make it biodegradable

26 February 201920 May 2019

Harnessing synthetic biology to produce terpenoids, oil in plants

Michigan State University scientists have developed synthetic biology tools to co-produce high-value compounds in plants

29 October 20189 September 2021

PHYCO2 Algae Production and Carbon Emissions Reduction Pilot Program with MSU Reach New Milestones

Conversion process transforms CO₂ to algae, which then can be used for a multitude of products

26 September 201824 September 2018

Harnessing Algae and Fungi to Create New Biofuel System

Michigan State University scientists have found a solution to enhance oil production and harvest using what many consider sea sludge

22 December 201720 December 2017

Earth Institute: The Truth About Bioplastics

Bioplastics are often touted as being eco-friendly, but do they live up to the hype?

10 November 20172 November 2017

Better together: a bacteria community creates biodegradable plastic with sunlight

Cheap plastics abound, and they're a mixed bag – pun intended

8 November 20176 November 2017

Super cyanobacteria and its sidekick – Power duo produces bioplastic faster and cheaper than ever before

Michigan State University researchers combining spirulina microorganisms with natural bacteria to make a 100% biologically derived and biodegradable bioplastic

7 November 201712 September 2018

MSU scientists work to make biodegradable plastic from sunlight

Researchers are looking to genetically alter cyanobacteria, tiny photosynthetic workhorses, also known as blue-green algae, to funnel their outputs into useful products

6 October 20179 September 2021

MSU research to harness algae to contain power plant emissions

Algae used to produce biodiesel from coal emissions

2 October 201728 September 2017

Michigan State University: $10M DOE grant to help boost camelina oilseed yield

DoE grant paving the way to explore and to boost this promising biofuel crop’s yield

11 August 20179 August 2017

Lignin can make building materials less toxic, replaces petroleum

MSU research showing the 100 percent successful substitution of phenol with lignin

1 August 201725 July 2017

Cellulosic Biofuels Can Benefit the Environment If Managed Correctly

Cellulosic biofuels are routinely factored into future climate mitigation scenarios because of their potential to displace petroleum use and mitigate greenhouse gas emissions

24 July 201721 July 2017

In search of next-gen bioproducts and fuels, DOE invests $40M in 4 Bioenergy Research Centers

The centers are designed to lay the scientific groundwork for a new bio-based economy that promises to yield a range of important new products

20 February 20179 September 2021

Reverse Combustion and its prospects

There are more than a dozen technologies somewhere in development with a dizzying array of acronyms

1 September 201631 August 2016

Empty Fruit Bunch from Date Palm Industries – A Sustainable Resource for Producing Biofuels and Industrial Solvents

EFB contains polymeric sugars that can be converted to biofuel by enzymatic hydrolysis and microbial fermentation

21 July 20169 September 2021

PHYCO2 completes test pilots of Algae Growth, CO2 Sequestration at Michigan State

Two advisory boards to focus on the commercialization of technologies for human nutrition and animal feed

10 May 20169 September 2021

PHYCO2, MSU announce breakthrough in algae technology

Technology can capture significant amounts of CO₂ for high-density algae cultivation with the PHYCO2 patented algae photo bioreactor

16 December 2015

(Micro-)Plastic: From material of unlimited opportunities to contaminants in the environment?

Results of the conference "Microplastic in the Environment – Sources, Impacts & Solutions”

(Mikro-)Plastik: Vom Werkstoff der unbegrenzten Möglichkeiten zum umweltgefährdenden Schadstoff?

Resultate der Konferenz „Microplastic in the Environment – Sources, Impacts & Solutions“

11 November 201511 November 2015

Final Programme Released: Microplastic conference in Cologne from 23-24 November 2015

+++ Final programme released +++ Already 130 participants +++ Just 14 days left +++

23 September 20159 September 2021

MSU/PHYCO2 collaboration works for cleaner power

PHYCO₂-technology continuously captures significant amounts of CO₂, growing algae with LED light

28 August 201526 August 2015

BESC creates microbe that bolsters isobutanol production

New significant finding to encourage microbial engineering challenges

14 August 20159 September 2021

Why not just reduce our use?

Meet the companies trying to break our plastic addiction

7 August 20156 August 2015

Ethylene Production Via Sunlight Opens Door to Future

Here's the Future of Ethylene Production As Dr. Jianping Yu Sees It

4 August 20153 August 2015

Ethylene Production Via Sunlight Opens Door to Future

Here's the future of ethylene production as Dr. Jianping Yu sees it

8 May 20157 May 2015

The DOE’s 12 Top Biobased Molecules – what became of them?

Take a look back at a DOE paper that sparked so much interest

24 April 201523 April 2015

False claims of so-called biodegradation-promoting additives are dangerous for the environment

MSU research found no evidence that any of the tested additives promoted and/or enhanced biodegradation

25 March 201524 March 2015

Additives to biodegrade plastics don’t work

Recycling plastic works; additives to biodegrade plastic do not

Biofuels Digest’s 2015 5-Minute Guide

The portait of the Michigan Biotechnology Institute: The mission to enhance quality of life by collaboratively accelerating the commercialization of sustainable bio-based technologies

16 February 201513 February 2015

New Science paper calculates magnitude of plastic waste going into the ocean

8 million metric tons of plastic enter the oceans per year

21 January 201520 January 2015

Nachwachsende Ressourcen kommen an ihre Grenzen

Der Mensch sollte sorgfältig mit nachwachsenden Rohstoffen umgehen

Renewable resources reach their limits

Humanity should use planetary resources with care

4 November 20143 November 2014

Critics respond to study claiming poor GHG performance of cellulosic biofuels

GCR notifying that using corn crop residue to make ethanol under some conditions can generate more greenhouse gases than gasoline

13 June 201412 June 2014

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