Fuel it don’t waste it!
CSIRO and Monash University have developed a process that turns green waste such as small logs, waste paper and garden waste into a bio-crude oil that can be converted into biofuel. Dr Steven Loffler from the CSIRO said it is a breakthrough because it uses waste that would otherwise be sent to landfill rather than food crops. "By using waste, our Furafuel technology overcomes the food versus fuel debate which surrounds biofuels generated from grains, corn and sugar," he said.
The British parliament raised concerns about the use of food crops for conversion into biofuels in its report Are biofuels sustainable? released last month. It said diverting arable land for the production of crops which are then burned for fuel could exacerbate food shortages, particularly in developing countries, and lead to higher food prices.
However, the report is optimistic about the use of non-food crops for the production of biofuels: "In the future, developments in biofuel technology might lessen the potential impacts on food security. There is significant interest in the development of non-food crops that do not compete for the same agricultural requirements as food and fodder crops."
(Extract fromwww.EnvironmentalManagementNews.net) Degrading plastic quickly with clay
Scientists in New York are reporting development of a new biodegradable "nanohybrid" plastic that can be engineered to decompose much faster than existing plastics used in everything from soft drink bottles to medical implants.
Science Daily reported that the plastic is a modified form of polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB), a promising biodegradable plastic produced from bacteria that has been widely hailed as a "green" alternative to petroleum-based plastic for use in packaging, agricultural and biomedical applications. Although commercially available since the 1980s, PHB has seen only limited use because of its brittleness and unpredictable biodegradation rates.
In the new study, Emmanuel P. Giannelis and colleagues compared the strength and biodegradation rates of raw PHB to a modified form of PHB that contains nanoparticles of clay or "nanoclays." The scientists found that the modified PHB was stronger and decomposed faster than regular PHB. The nanohybrid PHB decomposed almost completely after seven weeks, while its traditional counterpart showed almost no decomposition. Researchers also showed that degradation could be fine-tuned by adjusting the amount of nanoparticles added. The study is the "first report of the biodegradation of PHB nanocomposites" and could lead to wider use of PHB plastics, the scientists say. (From e-news@wmaa.asn.au)
Get Smart! Store that Energy
Development of the first hybrid battery suitable for storing electricity from renewable energy sources such as solar and wind is now a step closer, according to CSIRO and Cleantech Ventures. The companies have invested in technology start-up Smart Storage Pty Ltd to develop and commercialise battery-based storage solutions.
Director of the CSIRO Energy Transformed National Research Flagship Dr John Wright said the Smart Storage battery technology aims to deliver a low-cost, high-performance, high-power stationary energy storage solution suitable for grid-connected and remote applications. Technology development is now underway to produce a low-cost and easily manufactured deep-cycle stationary battery that meets demanding variable operating conditions.
The Smart Storage technology is a hybrid battery which combines an asymmetric ‘supercapacitor’ electrode and a lead-acid battery in a single unit cell. Advanced materials used for the electrodes and current management claim to absorb and release charge rapidly and at efficiencies well above conventional battery types. It is expected that the discharge and charge power of the Smart Storage battery will be 50% higher and its cycle life at least three times longer than that of the conventional lead-acid counterpart.
“Most importantly, our technology development path is directed towards manufacturing in existing lead-acid battery plants,” said Andrew Pickering, a principal at Cleantech Ventures. “Too often new technologies simply aren’t affordable and that significantly retards market uptake.”
“Investments in energy storage technologies have excellent potential for strong returns given the growing market demand and the lack of viable solutions. We now have investments in two energy storage technology companies, V-Fuel which targets grid-scale renewable energy storage applications and now Smart Storage for smaller renewable energy systems.” (From www.sustainabilitymatters.net.au) Future Shock: trends, challenges and opportunities for the ICT sector
This is the topic of the next Western Sydney ITC forum which will be held at the Western Sydney Trade & Investment Centre, Level 2, 470 Church St, North Parramatta on Tuesday, February 19, from 7.00am for 7.30 to 10am.
Key speakers at the WSITC February 19 forum are:
• Malcolm Alder, Partner, Digital Business, KPMG on changing market demographics, new technologies and emerging business models
• Gerard Florian, CTO, Dimension Data: on issues and business drivers behind 'green' IT and IT's central role in a sustainable economy
• Prof Simeon Simoff, School of Computing, UWS: on R&D for managing massive data loads and the potential of internet super-computing networks.
A number of WSITC Cluster members developing new solutions will also relate how they are capitalising on emerging trends and technologies to successfully create new business opportunities.
The morning promises to not only be an eye opener but an invaluable networking opportunity for members and guests. If you want to attend this forum, contact (Wayne.Sonter@business.nsw.gov.au) or Ph: 8843 1108. Your Ideas, Innovations or Events?
If you want publicity for an idea, innovation or technically related event, contact the I&I editor, Colin Seaborn on 4254 0200 or 0419 841829 or click here->
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