25 June 202418 June 2024 Insect wings, bodies, and brains in bio-inspired design Researchers are building materials inspired by natural innovations to solve a wide set of problems like antibiotic resistance and unsustainable packaging
21 May 202414 May 2024 Nanoparticle catalysts convert carbon dioxide to carbon monoxide to make useful compounds Researchers from the University of Illinois studied the catalytic activity of cheaper nanoparticle catalysts to determine if the lower-cost catalyst could enhance activity levels of β-Mo2C with a silica oxide support in the RWGS reaction
2 November 202330 October 2023 Firms plan pilot plants for biobased acrylic acid They all hope to succeed despite false starts to commercialize the process, but there are only few successful - Companies still have more work to do before they can compete with the petrochemical production
5 October 20232 October 2023 Scientists Use Bacteria to Turn Plastic Into Useful Substances James Collins from MIT and Ting Lu with the University of Illinois described in a study how to turn plasticwaste into useful products
20 January 202318 January 2023 A big step toward ‘green’ ammonia and a ‘greener’ fertilizer Industrial production of ammonia, primarily for synthetic fertilizer — the fuel for last century’s Green Revolution — is one of the world’s largest chemical markets, but also one of the most energy intensive
10 January 20235 January 2023 USDA Invests $9.5M to Develop New Bioproducts from Agricultural Commodities The program’s exploration into bioproducts accelerates USDA’s efforts to develop circular bioeconomies, where agricultural resources are harvested, consumed, and regenerated in a sustainable manner
5 September 202230 August 2022 RIPE researchers prove bioengineering better photosynthesis increases yields in food crops for the first time ever RIPE researchers prove bioengineering better photosynthesis increases yields in food crops for the first time ever
Speed-the-Leaf: RIPE’s photosynthesis breakthru offers a 20% increase in crop yield Some years ago, the RIPE team went down the rabbit hole of transforming photosynthesis, on the noble theory that if plants are more efficient, we’ll have more food, fiber, fuel, and what have you
17 March 202211 March 2022 DOE Grant to engineer bioplastic packaging that’s infinitely recyclable This private-public effort is among seven supported by USD 13.4 million in DOE funding to reduce single-use plastics' carbon emissions and improve their recyclability through next-generation plastic technologies
4 February 202228 January 2022 Stackable artificial leaf uses less power than lightbulb to capture 100 times more carbon than other systems Illinois University researchers developed an artificial leaf system which could play a significant role in reducing greenhouse gases in the atmosphere
8 September 20213 September 2021 This wood alternative is made from kombucha brewing waste Pyrus - the winner of this year’s national James Dyson Award - mimics rare woods so we don’t need to cut down the rainforest to get them
23 August 202119 August 2021 Bioprozess zur Umwandlung von Pflanzenmaterial in wertvolle Chemikalien entwickelt Ein Team von Wissenschaftlern an der University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign entwickelte einen Bioprozess mit Hilfe von gentechnisch veränderter Hefe, der Pflanzenmaterial, das aus Acetat und Xylose besteht, vollständig und effizient in hochwertige Bioprodukte umwandelt
26 July 20219 September 2021 Future Insight Prize 2021 of € 1 Million Awarded to Ting Lu and Stephen Techtmann Merck announced the winners of this year’s Future Insight Prize
Ting Lu und Stephen Techtmann erhalten mit 1 Mio. € dotierten Future Insight Prize 2021 Merck hat heute die Gewinner seines Future Insight Prize 2021 bekannt gegeben
16 July 20219 September 2021 These ‘supertrees’ are engineered to capture more carbon But the introduction of genetically modified trees raises some difficult questions
3 February 20213 February 2021 Microbial Cell Factories Webinar Series – Biological Principles to Commercial Products 11th March, 25th March & 8th April, 17:00-19:00 CET
29 January 20219 September 2021 New electrode design more efficiently converts CO2 into fuel Study: University of Illinois researchers team were able to convert CO2 to ethylene at a rate of up to 87 percent
4 January 20219 September 2021 Braskem Announces Research Partnership for Sustainable Plastic Production Using CO2 Capture and Utilization Technology and Use New project to be developed together with researchers at the University of Illinois, Chicago
1 April 202030 March 2020 Producing Products from Renewable Biomass Using Yeast Researchers are finding out techniques to generate valuable products from renewable biomass by employing organisms like yeast
4 December 20199 September 2021 New study looks to biological enzymes as source of hydrogen fuel This new development may help clear the path for the hydrogen fuel industry to move into a larger role in the global push toward more environmentally friendly energy sources
3 June 20192 June 2019 New Artificial Photosynthesis Breakthrough Uses Gold to Turn CO2 Into Liquid Fuel The new process mimics this natural ability via chemical manipulations that create liquid fuel, without requiring chlorophyll
13 May 20199 September 2021 Reducing energy required to convert CO2 waste into valuable resources University of Illinois chemical engineers have assessed the technical and economic feasibility of a new electrolysis technology
1 February 201929 January 2019 Quest fulfilled? Holy Grail found? 40% crop yield increase really possible? University of Illinois and USDA researchers found transgenic tobacco plants were ∼40% more productive than wild-type tobacco plants
21 January 201916 January 2019 Scientists engineer shortcut for photosynthetic glitch, boost crop growth 40% International research project is engineering crops to photosynthesize more efficiently to sustainably increase worldwide food productivity
10 January 201927 November 2019 Genetically modified ‘shortcut’ boosts plant growth by 40% University of Illinois researcher team is now hoping to use its findings to boost the yields of soybean, rice, potato and tomato plants
12 December 201812 December 2018 Team converts wet biological waste to diesel-compatible fuel University of Illinois researchers using hydrothermal liquification
Jetzt wird Schweinegülle zu Diesel-Treibstoff US-Wissenschaftler der University of Illinois nutzen Technik der hydrothermalen Verflüssigung
13 April 201810 April 2018 Illinois researchers receive $1 million to study bioenergy crops Biomass cultivars ready to plug into the biofuel supply chain in the United States
30 January 201824 January 2018 New study shows producers where and how to grow cellulosic biofuel crops Practical agronomic data for five cellulosic feedstocks, which could improve adoption and increase production across the country
18 September 201714 September 2017 Airline industry could fly thousands of miles on biofuel from a new promising feedstock Illinois researchers have developed sugarcane that produces oil, called lipidcane, that can be converted into biodiesel or jet fuel in place of sugar
19 April 201711 April 2017 ADM’s second Carbon Capture and Storage project starts up The new project can safely prevent more than 1 million tons of carbon dioxide from entering the atmosphere annually
16 February 201714 February 2017 Innovation Legislation Seeks Boost in Illinois’ Bio-based Economy Senate Bill 1656 provides incentives to Illinois businesses to produce and sell new renewable products made from biomass and other renewable sources
18 January 201716 January 2017 Dual-purpose biofuel crops could extend production, increase profits Recent Illinois study shows that it is cost effective to retrofit ethanol plants where it makes sense
12 January 20179 September 2021 Rice scientists, colleagues use doped graphene quantum dots to reduce carbon dioxide to fuel Carbon dots dash toward ‘green’ recycling role
25 November 201624 November 2016 The End Of Biotechnology As We Know It Big challenges are waiting for science und industry according to the European Summit of Industrial Biotechnology 2016 in Graz/Austria
23 August 20169 September 2016 Europe Aims to Close Loophole on Wood Energy New report from European officials acknowledges the environmental impacts of their growing reliance on wood energy
10 August 20168 August 2016 Superhydrophobic Coatings with Edible Materials Researchers collaboration develop bio-based coatings for a variety of daily consumed liquid products
5 February 20164 February 2016 4D-printed structure changes shape when placed in water Wyss, SEAS researchers create shape-shifting architectures that mimic plant movements
27 July 201524 July 2015 Algae and cow cells: BIO members using plants, animals in new ways Algae and leaf-based oils for food and fuel, meat without slaughter, and healthy sugar are all part of the not-so-distant future
1 July 201529 June 2015 DOE’s ARPA-E funds 6 projects to improve sorghum development The U.S. Department of Energy’s Advanced Research Projects Agency has awarded $30 million to six projects under its Transportation Energy Resources from Renewable Agriculture program
8 June 201517 June 2015 Leaving on a Biofueled Jet Plane Researchers at Energy Biosciences Institute Develop Process for Drop-in Aviation Biofuel
19 May 201518 May 2015 LanzaTech CEO Holmgren selected to receive the 2015 BIO Rosalind Franklin Award BIO is pleased to honor Dr. Holmgren for her accomplishments in the field of industrial biotechnology
11 March 201510 March 2015 Miscanthus-based ethanol boasts bigger environmental benefits, higher profits A recent study simulated a side-by-side comparison of the yields and costs of producing ethanol using miscanthus, switchgrass, and corn stover
9 March 20159 September 2021 One Step Closer to Artificial Photosynthesis and “Solar Fuels” Caltech scientists, inspired by a chemical process found in leaves, have developed an electrically conductive film that could help pave the way for devices capable of harnessing sunlight to split water into hydrogen fuel
19 January 201516 January 2015 New law allows Illinois universities to conduct hemp research Studies show hemp fibers can be used in the manufacture of hundreds of products, ranging from paper to carpeting and clothing
1 September 201429 August 2014 Earth can sustain more terrestrial plant growth than previously thought Study addresses untapped potential productivity of plants
25 August 20149 September 2021 New catalyst converts carbon dioxide to fuel UIC researchers found way to directly reduce CO2 to syngas without secondary gasification process
1 August 201431 July 2014 Study: Ethanol co-product may offer low-fat product for use in swine diet In recent years, ethanol plants have begun to centrifuge the solubles from ethanol production to extract oil, which is sold to the biodiesel industry – as a result, new low-fat DDGS products are available for swine diets
6 June 20145 June 2014 Despite the Rhetoric – Corn Ethanol Doesn’t Cause Land Use Change Study Finds that Increased Corn Yields and More Efficient Use of Corn Ethanol Co-products Will Greatly Decrease Land Needed for Ethanol Production
28 April 201427 April 2014 Biopolymer plays sacrificial role in innovative self-healing composite system First demonstration of repeated healing in a fiber-reinforced composite system