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Technology Review: Making Fuel from Leftovers

Link: Technology Review: Making Fuel from Leftovers.

Researchers led by Bruce Logan of Penn State University have developed a modified microbial electrolysis cell where bacteria break down acetic acid (from fermentation of plant waste) and cellulose.  The cell creates about 0.3 volts.  A short burst of 0.2 volts external energy released hydrogen gas.  Almost 3x more energy was created than used to drive the process.  The process is more efficient that electrolysis and can use cellulose directly without requiring preprocessing to break down the cellulose into sugars.  Research is underway to find alternatives to the platinum currently used in one of the electrodes.

Technology Review: Termite Guts Could Boost Ethanol Efficiency

Link: Technology Review: Termite Guts Could Boost Ethanol Efficiency.

Researchers at Caltech led by Jaret Leadbetter have completed a metagenomic study of the microbes living in the Costa Rica Nasutitermes termites and have identifed nearly 1000 enzymes involved in breaking down cellulose.  Verenium, a enzyme and biofuels company is testing some of the enzymes by themselves and in combination to determine if they are more effective than existing processes.   

Technology Review: Carbon-Dioxide Plastic Gets Funding

Link: Technology Review: Carbon-Dioxide Plastic Gets Funding.

Novomer of Ithaca, New York is a spinoff from Cornell University developing plastics (aliphatic polycarbonates) from carbon dioxide or carbon monoxide.  They have secured $6.6M in venture-capital funding to commercialize a process using epoxides and a zinc-based catalyst that works at ambient pressure and temperature.  Previous attempts required expensive catalysts, high pressure and temperature, driving up the cost to over $100/pound.  The new process is expected to be cost-competitive with plastics produced from petroleum. 

The characteristics of the Novomer polymer can be controlled using the different epoxides.  In addition, the plastic is biodegradable.

Fantastic plastic could cut CO2 emissions and purify water (Media Release)

Link: Fantastic plastic could cut CO2 emissions and purify water (Media Release).

Researchers at the University of Texas, Hanyang University (Korea) and CSIRO are developing a plastic membrane with hourglass-shaped pores, similar to the aquaporins in plant cell membranes that allow water to pass through the membranes while blocking other molecules.  The membrane use a thermally rearranged (TR) plastic that is stable at high temperatures yet has a high gas transport rate, several hundred times faster than existing membranes.  The pores are more consistent in size than have been found in other plastics, resulting in a fourfold increase purity of the separated gases.

The plastic membrane can separate carbon dioxide from methane, an important step note in natural gas processing and landfill gas recovery.  Other applications include water purification, desalination, and hydrogen production.  The membranes may even find applications in fuel cells.

Additional material can be found at New Membrane Strips Carbon Dioxide from Natural Gas Faster and Better, as well as an interview with Dr. Anita Hill of CSIRO.

 

Thanks to Ian Abbott Donnelly for the pointer!

Smarty Plants: Inside the World's Only Plant-Intelligence Lab

Link: Smarty Plants: Inside the World's Only Plant-Intelligence Lab.

The International Laboratory of Plant Neurobiology (LINV) specializes in "plant neurobiology", the study of "signalling and communication at all levels of plant organization, starting from single molecules and ending at ecological communities."  The lab is promoting a "view [that] sees plants as information processing organisms with complex communication throughout the individual plant. Plants are as sophisticated in behavior as animals but their potential has been masked because it operates on time scales many orders of magnitude less than that operating in animals."

A number of studies are explored the chemical and physical signaling mechanisms in plants.  A feasibility study is looking at the concept of devloping 'plantoids' for soil exploration of other planets.

Although one can argue about the definition of intelligence, it is clear from research such as the Influence of Global Warming on 'Greenup' that plants can display unexpectedly complex behavior.

Technology Review: Virus-Built Electronics

Link: Technology Review: Virus-Built Electronics.

A team led by Angela Belcher at MIT are using viruses as self-organizing templates to create new nanomaterials.  Viruses form orderly patterns when sufficiently concentrated, and can be modified to bind inorganic materials.  This approach has been used to create thin films for rechargeable batteries.  Belcher is developing ways of creating specialized fibers. 

The article describes how 'directed evolution' can be used to identify the changes required such that the virus will bind to specific materials.  Although a form of genetic engineering, the results may help us understand the principles behind self-assembly in nature.  In addition, the viruses are used in a manufacturing process - adequate controls would need to be implemented to avoid spreading the virus.

Technology Review: Glue That Sticks to Nearly Everything

Link: Technology Review: Glue That Sticks to Nearly Everything.

Researchers led by Phillip Messersmith of Northwestern University have identified a compound similar to two of the active components in the 'glue' that mussels use to attach themselves.  The compound can form thin films to which a wide variety of organic and inorganic materials will stick.  The film can also be patterned using microlithography, both to create electronic circuits and specific patterns of organic substances.  The films self-assemble from dopamine when the correct concentrations and pH levels are maintained.

The compound