Methods for electrochemically oxidizing aromatic aldehydes, such as furfural and furfural derivatives, to carboxylic acids in acidic solutions are provided. Also provided are electrochemical cells for...
Learn More

A method of making of 1,2,5,6-hexanetetrol (“tetrol”). The method includes the steps of contacting a reaction solution containing water as well as levoglucosenone, dihydrolevoglucosenone, and/or l...
Learn More

An apparatus for generating a highly energetic plasma employs a low-energy neutral beam injected into a magnetically contained mirror plasma to produce plasma ions boosted in energy to fusion levels b...
Learn More

Recombinant microorganisms configured for enhanced production of compounds such as 2-pyrone-4,6-dicarboxylic acid (PDC) and methods of using the recombinant microorganisms for the production of these ...
Learn More

The present invention relates to materials and methods for the production of ethanol. More particularly, the present invention provides genetically modified strains of Saccharomyces cerevisiae exhibit...
Learn More

A method of liquefying biomass. The method includes the steps of contacting biomass with a solution comprising an acyl halide and an acid; and then contacting the biomass with a reductant.
Learn More

Microbiome compositions and uses thereof. The microbiome compositions include a set of microbes. The sets of microbes contain members of Lactobacillaceae, Eubacteriaceae, Lachnospiraceae, and Coriobac...
Learn More

Mutant thioesterases having enhanced medium chain substrate activity, polynucleotides encoding and configured to express the mutant thioesterases in a transformed host cell, host cells transformed to ...
Learn More

Smart coatings are responsive to external or environmental factors like temperature with an engineered and predictable effect. This technology focuses on stimuli-responsive block copolymer additives t...
Learn More

An important criterion for assessing food safety is the amount of time it spends in the ‘danger zone’ (40-120° F). A 2013 food policy report found that more than 90 percent of Americans throw out...
Learn More

5-Hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF) has been called the “sleeping giant” of building block chemistry and listed among the top 10 biomass-based platform chemicals by the U.S Department of Energy. Reducti...
Learn More

Paracetamol (acetaminophen) is an analgesic and fever-reducing medicine. It is an active ingredient in many widely sold over-the-counter medicines such as Tylenol and Panadol. As a prescription pharma...
Learn More

Although horizontal axis wind turbines currently dominate the wind power industry, their vertical axis counterparts offer several advantages. For example, vertical axis systems are powered by wind com...
Learn More

According to BCC research, the global catalyst market was valued at $6.8 billion in 2015. With a CAGR of 2.8%, this market is anticipated to exceed $8.0 billion by 2021. Driving this growth is the gl...
Learn More

Fatty alcohols are used in detergents, emulsifiers, lubricants and personal care items. More than 1.3 million tons of fatty alcohols are used worldwide each year, representing a $3 billion market. C...
Learn More

New, renewable sources of transportation fuel are needed to meet continuing demand. While the main focus has been on biomass-derived gasoline alternatives such as ethanol and other short-chain alcohol...
Learn More

The platform molecule 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF), produced from the dehydration of C6 sugars (hexoses), is considered to be one of the top value-added chemicals. The efficient production of HMF fro...
Learn More

Lignin is a renewable resource that accounts for up to 30 percent of the dry weight of vascular plant cell walls. It is comprised of aromatic compounds that may be valuable commodities for the biofuel...
Learn More

Lipids derived from microorganisms, including bacteria, yeast and microalgae, offer a promising source of renewable fuels and chemicals. Oleaginous microbes – defined as those accumulating more than...
Learn More

Plant cell wall utilization in a variety of natural and industrial processes is hampered by the lignin component. To make lignin easier to degrade, Wisconsin researchers discovered how chemically reac...
Learn More

Production of fuels and chemicals from biomass requires utilization of all biomass fractions, i.e., cellulose, hemi-cellulose and lignin. Thus, product molecules from all fractions of biomass must be ...
Learn More

Aerogels are the world’s lightest solid materials made by removing liquid from gels. Such materials may contain up to 99 percent air and have special properties like high porosity and absorption.One...
Learn More

Exploiting the energy potential of biomass high in cellulose and lignin—including grasses, shrubs, husks, bark, yard and mill offal not readily digestible by humans—offers a vast and renewable alt...
Learn More

“Rectennas” are antennas that can receive radio signals and rectify them to generate electrical power for wireless power transfer. Potential applications for rectennas range from large-scale power...
Learn More

Lignocellulosic biomass is a very desirable feedstock for biofuel production.  If the fermentation process for lignocellulose could be optimized, conversion of this biomass could yield 25 to 50 billi...
Learn More