Citrus waste converted to biopolymers using cavitation
The citrus industry generates a substantial amount of waste, primarily peels and seeds, which are often underutilized despite their rich cellulose and pectin content. Conventional pectin and cellulose extraction methods are energy-intensive and gener.....»»
Eco-friendly solution for battery waste: New study unveils novel metal extraction technique
A new study led by researchers in Canada introduces a novel process for the extraction and separation of metals from spent alkaline batteries, offering a promising solution for efficient recycling of critical materials......»»
Soda additive “no longer considered safe,” gets long-awaited FDA ban
Brominated vegetable oil (BVO) is used in citrus sodas but has largely been phased out. Enlarge / Tops of citrus sodas at a manufacturing plant. (credit: Getty | Vincent Mundy) After more than five decades of limbo, the.....»»
Pooping on the Moon Is a Messy Business
If humans are to return to the moon, space agencies and governments need to figure out the legal, ethical, and practical dimensions of extraterrestrial waste management......»»
Nitrogen-using bacteria can cut farms’ greenhouse gas emissions
Nitrogen fertilizers get converted to nitrous oxide, a potent greenhouse gas. Enlarge (credit: Timothy Hearsum) Fritz Haber: good guy or bad guy? He won the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 1918 for his part in developing the.....»»
Food safety, quality review summarizes sustainable seafood preservation to minimize waste, losses
Seafood is in high demand across several regions of the world. Moreover, this demand for seafood is expected to surge by a whopping 56% by 2050. Given the high moisture content and susceptibility of seafood to microbial and biochemical decay, it ofte.....»»
Novel carbon nanotube yarns can generate electricity from waste heat
In line with global efforts towards sustainability, the development of energy harvesting technologies has become a top research priority. Although renewable energy sources like wind and solar power have recently taken the spotlight, waste heat also s.....»»
Improved refrigeration could save nearly half of the 1.3 billion tons of food wasted each year globally
About a third of the food produced globally each year goes to waste, while approximately 800 million people suffer from hunger, according to the U.N.'s Food and Agriculture Organization......»»
Q&A: Plastic waste is a global problem, but carbon recycling can help
Heavy industries such as aviation and chemical manufacturing contribute to about 20% of overall U.S. greenhouse gas emissions and will continue to depend on fossil fuels......»»
Decades of industrial waste to be cleaned up in Montana following years of negotiations
Decades of industrial waste to be cleaned up in Montana following years of negotiations.....»»
Carbon dioxide, the main culprit of global warming, reborn as an antioxidant substance
A research team led by Dr. Lee Soo Youn at the Gwangju Clean Energy Research Center of the Korea Institute of Energy Research (KIER) has successfully converted carbon dioxide, the main culprit of global warming, into carotenoids, which possess antiox.....»»
Big brands are "failing to curb plastic sachet use"
Small plastic sachets commonly used in low- and middle-income countries must be phased out and packaging reuse systems promoted, urge campaigners and waste pickers, as new analysis reveals major corporations have failed to curb their use......»»
Chocolate made with fewer calories, less waste
“Whole fruit chocolate” uses cocoa pulp and inner shell in lieu of sugar. Enlarge (credit: YelenaYemchuk) Commercialization has not dealt kindly with the Mayan Food of the Gods. Modern chocolate products are filled w.....»»
A fungus converts cellulose directly into a novel platform chemical
The fungus Talaromyces verruculosus can produce the chemical erythro-isocitric acid directly from cheap plant waste, thus making it interesting for industrial utilization......»»
Packaged-meat labels that show freshness could replace use-by dates, reducing food waste
Patches that change color as raw meat freshness deteriorates in sealed refrigerated products could soon become a reality on supermarket shelves, making it easier for shoppers to know if it's still good to eat and reducing food waste......»»
New polystyrene recycling process could be world"s first to be both economical and energy-efficient
Engineers have modeled a new way to recycle polystyrene that could become the first viable way of making the material reusable. The chemical method identified to tackle hard-to-recycle packaging material, cutting landfill waste.....»»
Powering wearable devices with high-performing carbon nanotube yarns
With the growth of the Internet of Things, sustainable solutions for powering wireless sensors and devices are considered important. Thermoelectric generators, for example, which have the ability to convert waste heat into electricity, can offer a su.....»»
Researchers analyze how a chemical process could help recycle a common plastic waste
Researchers at Virginia Tech are exploring processes that might greatly increase the recycling of one of the world's most-produced plastics......»»
Soy biodiesel byproduct could enhance 3D printing industry
In a development that could advance the 3D printing industry, researchers at the University of Louisville have discovered a way to transform a significant waste output from soy biodiesel plants into a valuable resource......»»
Researchers develop increasingly sustainable methods for dissolving gold, silver and copper from recycled materials
Waste from computers and cell phones, solar panels and other discarded electronics are becoming an important source of noble metals alongside mining. Researchers at the University of Helsinki have developed sustainable dissolution methods for noble m.....»»
Probing neptunium"s atomic structure with laser spectroscopy
A new technique developed by researchers in Germany can measure ionization states of this element more precisely than before, with implications for its detection and remediation in radioactive waste......»»