| Articles & Reports |
| Dandelion Rubber? Researchers Make Russian Dandelion Suitable For Large-scale Rubber Production |
September 11, 2009 article in Science Daily. Introduction: "Most natural rubber comes from rubber trees in Southeast Asia, but this source is now under threat from a fungus. Researchers have optimized the Russian dandelion to make it suitable for large-scale rubber production." |
| Tired Made From Trees: Better, Cheaper, More Fuel Efficient |
August 5, 2009 article in Science Daily. Introduction: "
Wood science researchers at Oregon State University have made some surprising findings about the potential of microcrystalline cellulose – a product that can be made easily from almost any type of plant fibers – to partially replace silica as a reinforcing filler in the manufacture of rubber tires." |
| Microscopic manufacturers produce eco-friendly plastics |
A news release from the American Society of Microbiology on May 19, 2009 about current bioplactic production efforts. Introduction: "Last year's energy crisis highlighted an unforseen by-product of the looming fuel shortages of the 21st century. Petroleum-based products such as plastics that society takes for granted but now requires to function will run out with the oil. Scientists are looking to microorganisms to pick up the slack and help produce environmentally friendly plastics, according to research presented today at the 109th General Meeting of the American Society for Microbiology." |
| New soy-based industrial projects |
An announcement by the United Soybean Board in the Green Chemicals blog about recently-finished soy-based development projects. Click for further information on these projects. |
| Move away DEET! Here comes catnip insect repelent |
April 28, 2009 article in Green Chemicals blog. Introduction: "
For the first time in eight years, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) approved a new biopesticide, this time made from catmint plant - a feline's favorite catnip, according to its developer DuPont." |
| Ethanol Co-Product Use in U.S. Cattle Feeding: Lessons Learned and Considerations |
April 2009 USDA-ERS Outlook report focused on the value of the byproducts of ethanol, sweeteners, syrups, and oil production. Introduction: "Co-products such as dried distiller’s grains, corn gluten feed, corn gluten meal, corn oil, solubles, and brewer’s grains have become economically viable components, along with traditional ingredients (such as corn, soybean meal, and urea), in feed rations." |
| The world's first corn cob ammonia plant |
Announcement in Green Chemicals blog of the world's first corn cob ammonia plant. California-based SynGest will be built in Iowa and use 150,000 tons of corn per year to produce 50,000 tons of bio-ammonia per year, enough to fertilize 500,000 acres of corn crop. |
| Could ‘liquid wood’ replace plastic? |
A feature article in the February 11, 2009 issue of the Christian Science Monitor about a bio-friendly alternative to plastic gaining momentum in the fight against the world's dependance on plastics. Quote: "While many scientists turned to other green options, a German company, Tecnaro, says it found the magic formula. Its 'liquid wood' can be molded like plastic, yet biodegrades over time. Now, Tecnaro’s success could revive interest in lignin and propel the search for better and cheaper bioplastics.'The lignin itself was misunderstood completely by [leaders in the field] and the majority of people,' says Simo Sarkanen, an environmental science professor at the University of Minnesota." |
Environmentally Sustainable Fibers from Regenerated Protein |
Published in 2009 journal, Biomacromolecules, Summary: "Promising fabric sources include agricultural proteins, such as keratin from scrap chicken feathers and gluten from wheat, they say. The scientists describe advances in nanotechnology and chemical cross-linking that can improve the strength and biodegradability of these fabrics, paving the way for commercial production of eco-friendly clothing, furniture upholstery and other products." |
| Defatted Soy Flour Eyed as Filler Substitute for Rubber Tires |
December 24, 2008 - Agricultural Research Service press release introducing a report recently published in the Journal of Applied Polymer Science. Intro: "In 1941, Henry Ford unveiled a plastic-bodied car whose panels included soybean meal as component. The feat made headlines--and history--but the idea never took off commercially. However, researchers continue to toy with the idea, including Agricultural Research Service (ARS) scientists Lei Jong and Jeffrey Byars, who are testing soy flour as a "green" filler for tires and other natural rubber products." |
Producing bioplastic in switchgrass boosts the plant's value as a cellulosic feedstock |
August 2008 article in Chemical and Engineering News. Abstract:
Scientists at Cambridge, Mass.-based Metabolix have genetically engineered switchgrass to produce significant amounts of a biodegradable polyester within the plant's cell walls. The ability to coproduce a bioplastic along with a biofuel derived from the plant's cellulose boosts the prospects for using switchgrass and other nonfood crops as renewable feedstocks for biorefineries that one day are expected to economically produce fuels and chemicals." |
Response of Weeds and Ornamental Plants to Potting Soil Amended with Dried Distillers Grain |
Early 2008 research article from HortScience Online.
Summary: "DDGS (dried distillers grains with solubles), a byproduct of converting corn to fuel ethanol, is typically used as livestock feed. The U.S. Department of Agriculture undertook a research study on the use of DDGS as a weed deterrent on potted ornamentals. The study results, published in the February 2008 issue of HortScience, evaluated the use of DDGS as a soil amendment to suppress weeds in container-grown ornamentals."
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| I Have Just One Word For You: Bioplastics |
June 2008 article from Business Week Magazine, Summary: "Cambridge (Mass.) company, Metabolix, has harnessed the complex genetics of plant-cell metabolism and collected hundreds of patents on a process for manufacturing "bioplastics" in large vats of microbes. A $200 million factory is under construction and could start producing Metabolix's bioplastic, called Mirel, early next year." |
| Chemical buyers and suppliers work Green from different angles |
Story posted December 13, 2007 on Purchasing.com. Lead-in: "The environmental concerns of chemical buyers and chemical suppliers come in many shapes and sizes. From the purchasing side, there are the short-term concerns of finding supplies and suppliers that are compliant with a growing set of environmental regulations while also taking a longer-term view on how to marry environmental concerns with long-term business strategies. And from the supplier side, there are the challenges of complying with current restrictions and regulations while continuing to bring innovative long-term materials and solutions to their customers.
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| Chemicals from biomass |
Nov 23, 2007 release from Checktech.com. Excerpt: "Recently, there has been a strong political and technical focus on using biomass to produce transportation fuels. Much less attention has been given to biomass as a feedstock for organic chemicals. Replacement of petroleum- derived chemicals with those from biomass will play a key role in sustaining the growth of the chemical industry." |
| Is the roofing industry on the verge of a biobased boom? |
November 2007 report from Professional Roofing magazine. "Biobased roofing products are derived from rapidly renewable plant oil polymers designed not only to replace but outperform petroleum-based products." |
| Cubicles Go Green |
Press release, November 9, 2007. "The HON Company... has developed a new cubicle "filler" for inside cubicle walls which provides sustainable benefits, as well as improved indoor air quality. The material...is made primarily from kenaf, an annually renewable crop that is second only to cotton in the volume grown around the world." |
| Bioengineering for Pollution Prevention: Through the Development of Biobased Materials & Energy |
A Sept 2007 report from the US Environmental Protection Agency. "In this document, the application of industrial biotechnology to the important commodity
classes of fuels and plastics is reviewed. ...Promising areas for future exploration
and development are identified as well." |
| Three-Dimensional Fiberboard: A New Structural Building Product |
The
Forest Products Laboratory has developed a process to produce a three-dimensional structural fiberboard product using a wide range of wood fibers. This new engineered wood product will help address sustainable forest manage-ment issues and promote economically viable utilization of this excess forest underbrush and small-diameter, unmerchantable material. |
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