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A next-generation biorefinery model holds the potential to produce biofuels and chemicals through a process that researchers say has proven to be more efficient in converting plant biomass.

The co-solvent enhanced lignocellulosic fractionation pretreatment process, or CELF, provides a use for the lignin portion of biomass. Because lignin provides rigidity to a plant cell wall, breaking it down can be difficult. Harsh pretreatment steps can render the lignin useless as a feedstock, leaving it suitable only for burning for process heat.

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When it comes to making fuel from plants, the first step has always been the hardest — breaking down the plant matter. A new study finds that introducing a simple, renewable chemical to the pretreatment step can finally make next-generation biofuel production both cost-effective and carbon neutral.

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In 2021, nearly a quarter of the world’s carbon dioxide emissions came from the transportation sector, with aviation being a significant contributor. While the growing use of electric vehicles is helping to clean up ground transportation, today’s batteries can’t compete with fossil fuel-derived liquid hydrocarbons in terms of energy delivered per pound of weight — a major concern when it comes to flying. Meanwhile, based on projected growth in travel demand, consumption of jet fuel is projected to double between now and 2050 — the year by which the international aviation industry has pledged to be carbon neutral.

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This series of lessons encompass the topics of bioenergy, biofuels, carbon impacts and life-cycle analysis. The lessons are designed for middle and high school students and have options for advanced students in each lesson. Additionally, the lessons meet Next Generation Science Standards. All these lessons can be adapted to meet the learning needs of grades 4-12.

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Dairy Waste To Power is a strongly visual, multimedia lesson. Students learn how dairy waste can be turned into a valuable renewable resource. Students find that what is often a waste disposal problem can produce electricity and a variety of other valuable, environmentally friendly resources.

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Growing demand for oil, geopolitical concerns, and social and environmental pressures are pushing the transition from imported petroleum to renewable liquid fuels, with biofuels planned for a major portion of the nation’s future energy.

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Carbon credit programs are certainly nothing new, but they are gaining unprecedented popularity as consumer sentiment has prompted companies like Disney, Microsoft, Google and many others to use the credits to offset some of their carbon emissions.

What that means for farmers is that they have more opportunities to get into the game of folding in additional conservation practices (or often, simply documenting what they are already doing) to generate an entirely new revenue stream.

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This series of lessons encompass the topics of bioenergy, biofuels, carbon impacts and life-cycle analysis. The lessons are designed for middle and high school students and have options for advanced students in each lesson. Additionally, the lessons meet Next Generation Science Standards. All these lessons can be adapted to meet the learning needs of grades 4-12.

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Four scientists affiliated with the Department of Energy’s Oak Ridge National Laboratory were named Battelle Distinguished Inventors during the lab’s annual Innovation Awards on Dec. 1 in recognition of being granted 14 or more United States patents.

The honorees join an elite group of inventors recognized by Battelle, the Columbus, Ohio, research firm that co-manages the lab through the UT-Battelle partnership. Since UT-Battelle began managing ORNL in 2000, 97 ORNL researchers have reached this milestone.

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In 2010, there were about 250 million registered vehicles on U.S. highways.[1] Most of these vehicles have engines that use oil-based fuel, such as gasoline or diesel. Even hybrid-electric cars use gasoline to power their internal combustion engines, although they use less fuel than traditional automobiles.[2]

The use of oil-based fuels has both economic and environmental impacts. Both consumers and businesses are affected by fluctuations in oil prices. Fuel prices have been trending upward, with the annual average price of a gallon of gas increasing by about 170 percent between 2002 and 2012.[3] And vehicles powered by oil-based fuels release emissions that are harmful to the environment, including greenhouse gases (GHGs).

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