by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) …In today’s Digest, wool without the sheep, fuels from water and C)2, bacteria-powered solar cells, spectral imagery in the sky, artificial intelligence in the crop field, sugar-based straws and more, ready for you now at The Digest online.
#1 Sheep-free wool nabs PETA prize …
#2 From water to hydrogen biofuel – ASU uses light-driven energy extraction
In Arizona, Arizona State University researcher Kevin Redding is working on biological, light-driven energy extraction. Redding, a biochemist who leads the Center for Bioenergy and Photosynthesis at ASU, is producing hydrogen biofuel from water instead of from natural gas which is a fossil fuel. It’s at the proof of concept stage, on the bench. Redding said, “I’m trying to redirect the natural photosynthesis pathway to be useful to us.”
According to ASU, “Think of photosynthesis as an assembly line. You start at one end, oxidize water, and it releases oxygen. Electrons come down through the pathway and at the very end take carbon dioxide out of the air, fixing it into organic molecules like sugar and protein. Redding has redirected those electrons to make hydrogen, which can be used as a fuel.”
“That’s the whole idea behind making biofuels from CO2 in the air, which is probably a better idea, because our whole infrastructure is set to deal with liquid fuels,” Redding said. “If we’re dealing with hydrocarbons right now, why not stick with that? You take CO2 from the air, you make a fuel you can put in your tank, you burn it, you make CO2 again, but since that carbon came from CO2 in the air anyway, there’s no net production.”
#3 Bacteria-powered solar cell converts light to energy …
#4 Growlink offers beta program for Plant Health AI …
#5 Ceres Imaging lands $25 million for aerial spectral imagery …
#6 Cargill launches seaweed-based carrageenan extract for dairy manufacturers …
#7 Taiwanese startup develops sugar-based straws …
#8 VTT unveils 100% bio composite chair …
#9 UK researchers turn lignin into bioplastic …
#10 Farmers Edge and Nufarm partner to maximize crop profitability READ MORE