Technology
Ghost nets: the plastic haunting our oceans
In the fight against plastic, great attention has been paid to the terrestrial waste that finds its way to our oceans through landfill and littering. Schemes around the world have targeted disposable waste ranging from plastic straws to coffee cups,…
Engineered yeast could boost biofuel production
A team of researchers from Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) have developed a novel way of using yeast to produce ethanol, biodiesel and bioplastics. The research - which was funded by the US Department of Energy and the National Institutes…
A University of Sydney robot can sort plastics
Researchers from the University of Sydney have developed a new robot that can identify and sort soft plastics, in what is hoped to be a revolutionary step for streamlining the recycling process. Currently, soft plastic cannot be recycled through local…
Startup uses waste plastic to make Lego-style bricks
Canadian startup PLAEX Building Systems has partnered with agricultural suppliers to collect and recycle their waste plastic, transforming it into a sustainable construction material that the company says is ‘akin to a plasticised concrete’. The New Brunswick-based company seeks to…
Frontline BioEnergy: Transforming Biomass into Biochar and Bio-oil
At the beginning of June, Frontline BioEnergy in collaboration with Stine Seed Farms presented the final module of the Stine pyrolysis plant project in Iowa. The plant will transform biomass into biochar and bio-oil. While Frontline has designed and executed…
Wood Chips Could Be Key to Reducing GHG emissions
The Biomass Thermal Energy Council and Life Cycle Associates released a study in June 2021 titled ‘Life Cycle Analysis of Renewable Fuel Standard Implementation for Thermal Pathways for Wood Pellets and Chips’. The study was conducted under a grant issued by…