News tagged with switchgrass

Related topics: biofuel

Gene discovery potential key to cost-competitive cellulosic ethanol

(PhysOrg.com) -- Scientists at the Oak Ridge National Laboratory are improving strains of microorganisms used to convert cellulosic biomass into ethanol, including a recent modification that could improve ...

Biology / Biotechnology

created May 20, 2010 | popularity 4.8 / 5 (4) | comments 3 | with audio podcast

Energy-dense biofuel from cellulose close to being economical

A new Purdue University-developed process for creating biofuels has shown potential to be cost-effective for production scale, opening the door for moving beyond the laboratory setting.

Technology / Energy & Green Tech

created 6 hours ago | popularity not rated yet | comments 6 | with audio podcast

Scientists map and sequence genome of switchgrass relative foxtail millet

A newly published genetic sequence and map of foxtail millet, a close relative of switchgrass and an important food crop in Asia, is giving scientists working to increase biofuel and crop yields a powerful new tool.

Biology / Biotechnology

created Jun 01, 2012 | popularity not rated yet | comments 1 | with audio podcast

From field to biorefinery: Computer model optimizes biofuel operations

Research into biofuel crops such as switchgrass and Miscanthus has focused mainly on how to grow these crops and convert them into fuels. But many steps lead from the farm to the biorefinery, and each could ...

Technology / Computer Sciences

created Jan 17, 2012 | popularity 3.7 / 5 (3) | comments 1 | with audio podcast

Study questions cost-effectiveness of biofuels and their ability to cut fossil fuel use

A new study by economists at Oregon State University questions the cost-effectiveness of biofuels and says they would barely reduce fossil fuel use and would likely increase greenhouse gas emissions.

Technology / Energy & Green Tech

created Nov 29, 2011 | popularity 5 / 5 (1) | comments 26 | with audio podcast

Pretreatment, proper harvest time boost ethanol from switchgrass

Adding a pretreatment step would allow producers to get more ethanol from switchgrass harvested in the fall, according to a Purdue University study.

Biology / Biotechnology

created Aug 31, 2011 | popularity not rated yet | comments 0 | with audio podcast

Single microbial gene linked to increased ethanol tolerance

(PhysOrg.com) -- A team of researchers from the Department of Energy's BioEnergy Science Center has pinpointed a single, key gene in a microbe that could help streamline the production of biofuels from non-food ...

Biology / Biotechnology

created Aug 15, 2011 | popularity not rated yet | comments 0 | with audio podcast

Novel gene increases yeast's appetite for plant sugars

For thousands of years, bakers and brewers have relied on yeast to convert sugar into alcohol and carbon dioxide. Yet, University of Wisconsin-Madison researchers eager to harness this talent for brewing biofuels have found ...

Biology / Biotechnology

created Jul 25, 2011 | popularity not rated yet | comments 0 | with audio podcast

Scientists identify new implications for perennial bioenergy crops

A team of researchers from Arizona State University, Stanford University and Carnegie Institution for Science has found that converting large swaths of land to bioenergy crops could have a wide range of effects on regional ...

Space & Earth / Environment

created Feb 28, 2011 | popularity 4.7 / 5 (3) | comments 1 | with audio podcast

Pellets reduce costs, but not enough for cellulosic ethanol producers

Despite reducing transportation and handling costs, pelletizing cellulosic biomass would not be cost-effective for ethanol producers, according to a Purdue University study.

Technology / Energy & Green Tech

created Nov 16, 2010 | popularity 3.5 / 5 (2) | comments 0 | with audio podcast

Grasses have potential as alternate ethanol crop, study finds

Money may not grow on trees, but energy could grow in grass. Researchers at the University of Illinois have completed the first extensive geographic yield and economic analysis of potential bioenergy grass crops in the Midwestern ...

Biology / Biotechnology

created Nov 01, 2010 | popularity 3.8 / 5 (4) | comments 1 | with audio podcast

Neutrons helping researchers unlock secrets to cheaper ethanol

(PhysOrg.com) -- New insight into the structure of switchgrass and poplars is fueling discussions that could result in more efficient methods to turn biomass into biofuel.

Chemistry / Biochemistry

created Sep 15, 2010 | popularity 5 / 5 (1) | comments 2 | with audio podcast

Microbial breakthrough impacts health, agriculture, biofuels

For the first time ever, University of Illinois researchers have discovered how microbes break down hemicellulose plant matter into simple sugars using a cow rumen bacterium as a model.

Chemistry / Biochemistry

created Sep 07, 2010 | popularity 4.8 / 5 (6) | comments 0 | with audio podcast

New yeast can ferment more sugar, make more cellulosic ethan

(PhysOrg.com) -- Purdue University scientists have improved a strain of yeast that can produce more biofuel from cellulosic plant material by fermenting all five types of the plant's sugars.

Biology / Biotechnology

created Jun 07, 2010 | popularity 3.9 / 5 (10) | comments 0 | with audio podcast

Wine-making yeast shows promise for bioethanol production

Researchers from the Stanford University School of Medicine have identified a gene in the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae that might be important for ethanol production from plant material, providing insights into the bioeth ...

Biology / Cell & Microbiology

created May 13, 2010 | popularity not rated yet | comments 0 | with audio podcast