Syngas-to-lipids process demonstrated
Researchers at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT; Cambridge, Mass.; www.mit.edu) have demonstrated a two-stage process to convert synthesis gas (syngas) into lipids that can be used in biodiesel production. Eventually, such a process could be used to convert waste gases from steel mills into liquid transportation fuels.…» |
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Making PLGA by one-step fermentation
A Korean team, headed by professor Sang Yup Lee of the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (Daejeon, South Korea; www.kaist.ac.kr), has obtained various forms of PLGA [poly(lactate-co-glycolate)] from natural sources, allowing plastics to be made in an environmentally friendly manner. PLGA is a copolymer of lactic and glycolic acid.…» |
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A patent granted for this self-diagnostic technology used in boilers
The Clark-Reliance Corp. (Strongsville, Ohio; www.clark-reliance.com) has been awarded a U.S. Patent for its Eye-Hye SmartLevel system for remote indication of water level for industrial boilers. The patent recognizes the uniqueness of the system’s self-diagnostic technology, which intelligently monitors the condition of its sensing probes.…» |
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Microbes make a meal of PET
Research groups at Keio University (Hiyoshi; www.bio.keio.ac.jp/labs/kmiyamoto) and Kyoto Institute of Technology, in collaboration with Teijin Ltd. and Adeka Corp., have discovered a bacterium that can degrade and assimilate poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET), and have clarified the decomposition mechanism. This is said to be the first observation of the biodegradation of PET…» |
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Extremophilic algae selectively recovers precious metals from solution
The research group of Ayumi Minoda at the University of Tsukuba (Japan, plmet.biol.tsukuba.ac.jp) has discovered that the cellular surface layer of the sulfothermophilic red algae, Galdieria sulphuraria, can efficiently adsorb gold and palladium ions, even in highly acidic conditions. G. sulphuraria lives on the rock surfaces of sulfate springs.…» |
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Making complex silicone parts by 3-D printing
The field of additive manufacturing (AM) — often referred to as 3-D printing — has seen explosive growth in recent years (www.chemengonline.com/3-d-printing-accelerates-creating-cpi-opportunities). In AM, no tools or molds are required to shape the desired part; instead, the workpiece is built up in successive layers.…» |
