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KNOW A SCIENTIST
Dr. Selman Abraham Waksman was a Ukrainian-born, Jewish-American inventor, biochemist and microbiologist whose research into organic substances—largely into organisms that live in soil—and their decomposition promoted the discovery of Streptomycin, and several other antibiotics. A professor of biochemistry and microbiology at Rutgers University for four decades, he discovered over twenty antibiotics (a word which he coined) and introduced procedures that have led to the development of many others. The proceeds earned from the licensing of his patents funded a foundation for microbiological research, which established the Waksman Institute of Microbiology located on Rutgers University's Busch Campus in Piscataway, New Jersey (USA). In 1952 he was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in recognition "for his discovery of "streptomycin," the first antibiotic active against tuberculosis." Waksman was later accused of playing down the role of Albert Schatz, a PhD student who did the work under Waksman's supervision to discover streptomycin.
Schatz protested being left out of the award, but the Nobel committee ruled that he was a mere lab assistant working under an eminent scientist. " In the award speech, Waksman was called "one of the greatest benefactors to mankind," as the result of the discovery of streptomycin.
In 2005 Selman Waksman was granted an ACS National Historical Chemical Landmark in recognition of the significant work of his lab in isolating more than fifteen antibiotics.
Facts about biomass energy
Biomass has been used as fuel for tens of thousands of years. Development of biomass applications has made great strides in recent decades. There are now a variety of methods for converting biomass into heat and electricity, from pellets for household heating to agricultural waste used to produce electricity in commercial power plants.
Bioenergy expected to make up more than half of EU renewable energy in 2020
Bioenergy is currently the largest form of renewable energy in the EU and is expected to keep its dominant position in the realisation of the EU 2020 targets. This is largely caused by the dominant role of biomass in heat and transport. While alternative renewable energy options exist for electricity production, transport and heating depend largely on biomass.
Four per cent of EU electricity generation
Biomass and waste provided around four per cent of the EU's electricity generation in 2010. Biomass is used primarily in countries with extensive forest industries, where residues such as branches, wood chips and sawdust can be used to produce electricity and heat. Countries with large agricultural industries and industries that produce waste products that can be used as biofuels also have potential to increase their use of biomass.
Dramatic increase expected
The number of power plants in Europe that run solely on biomass is expected to increase dramatically in the coming years. In addition, it is used along with coal in many hard coal-fired power plants.
Sustainable biomass makes important contribution to CO2 reduction
Biomass can contribute to reducing CO2 emissions. To ensure biomass for energy leads to meaningful CO2 reduction, cultivation and production must be carried out in a controlled, sustainable manner. Vattenfall continuously improves the checks and balances it has in place to ensure the biomass we use is sustainable. Vattenfall is a member of the Sustainable Biomass Partnership.
Energy Triangle:
In supplying society with energy, a balance must be struck between three key dimensions: competitiveness, security of supply, and the environment and climate. No single energy source is optimal from all dimensions. This energy triangle illustrates the pros and cons of biomass.
Climate and environment:
By using biomass in power production instead of fossil fuels, CO2 emissions are significantly reduced. Carbon dioxide is emitted into the atmosphere when biomass is burnt but when biomass grows it binds carbon dioxide through photosynthesis. Properly managed biomass is therefore carbon neutral over time.
Security of supply:
Biomass can be converted into a stable and reliable supply of electricity and heat. Biomass can be securely sourced on small scales, but supply of larger volumes is currently difficult to secure. One important step is to establish a global trade and certification system. Biomass resources are geographically diversified and political risk is limited.
Competitiveness:
Using biomass to produce electricity is currently more expensive than using energy sources such as coal, gas or nuclear power. The global biomass supply chain is developing and, over time, technological and logistical improvements will bring down prices. An increased CO2 price will also improve the economic competitiveness of biomass.
Source: www.corporate.vattenfall.com
The new role of microbes in bio-fuel production
Currently biofuel is produced from plants as well as microbes. The oils, carbohydrates or fats generated by the microbes or plants are refined to produce biofuel. This is a green and renewable energy that helps in conserving fossil-fuel usage. But a new research has led to a new discovery of getting the microbes to produce fuel from the proteins instead of utilizing the protein for its own growth. The research is being done at the premises of University of California in Los Angeles.
Focus
The focus of the experiment was to induce the microbes under the study to produce a specific kind of proteins rather than what they otherwise might be inclined to produce. This special protein can be refined in to biofuel. The task is to make the microbes produce only this kind of protein, rather than utilizing it for their own growth and growth related activities as they otherwise do.
Different from prior practice
This kind of biofuel production is different from the traditional behavior of microbes where they use the protein only for growth. This is like tricking the microbes to deviate from that and produce fats or material that can be converted to biofuel. In the words of UCLA postdoctoral student and lead researcher, Yi-xin Huo -“We have to completely redirect the protein utilization system, which is one of the most highly-regulated systems in the cell.”
First attempt at protein utilization
This has been claimed as the first ever attempt to use the proteins as a source for generating energy. Until now the biofuel-producing algae has not made use of the protein like a carbon supply for biofuel. It was only used for growth. But now the scientists have tampered with usual nitrogen metabolism process and induced biorefining process and altered the metabolizing of nitrogen at the cellular level.
A fringe benefit
By this process, they are letting the cells to retain the nitrogen and take out just the ammonia. Once done with the biofuel production, the residue is a better kind of fertilizer thanks to the low nitrogen levels. This in turn will lessen any greenhouse emissions that happen during the fertilizer production. The new process will reprocess the nitrogen back and will help in maintaining a nitrogen neutral state and less harmful emissions during fertilizer production.
Future plans
The Nature Biotechnology Sunday issue has published the team’s findings. The team hopes that their findings will rewrite biofuel production by inundating the field with protein eating microbes which will generate fats and substances that can be converted into biofuel. The microbes will feed on proteins that are not fit for animal consumption and keep producing special proteins for biofuel conversion and later can become a better type if fertilizer with less nitrogen and nil harmful greenhouse emissions.
Source: www.alternative-energy-news.info
Burning biomass pellets instead of wood or plants in China could lower mercury emissions
For millions of homes, plants, wood and other types of “biomass” serve as an essential source of fuel, especially in developing countries, but their mercury content has raised flags among environmentalists and researchers. Scientists are now reporting that among dozens of sources of biomass, processed pellets burned under realistic conditions in China emit relatively low levels of the potentially harmful substance. The report was published in the ACS journal “Energy & Fuels”.
Wood pellets and other types of plant-based “biomass” serve as fuel for millions of homes, but their mercury content has raised flags.
Image Credit: iStock/Thinkstock
Xuejun Wang and colleagues explain that mercury is associated with health problems, particularly in children. But reducing exposure to mercury remains a huge challenge. In 2010 alone, coal-fired power plants, gold mining, the burning of biomass for fuel and other sources generated about 2,000 tons of mercury emissions around the world. In China, biomass such as plants and wood contributes to nearly a third of the energy used in the nation’s rural areas. To take steps to reduce mercury emissions, however, researchers first need know how much of the substance comes from burning different types of biomass. The problem is that previous estimates were based on data measured in industrialized countries, which may not be accurate for other locations. To get a clearer picture of what’s happening in China, Wang’s team took measurements there with biomass sources and stoves that rural residents actually use to cook and keep themselves warm.
They found that the levels of mercury released from burning biomass in widely available stoves varied greatly, depending on the source. Some of the highest levels of mercury came from burning certain wood species in raw form, such as Chinaberry and Chinese pine. In comparison, biomass pellets compressed from cornstalks and pine wood released lower levels of mercury. “Biomass pellets can reduce mercury emissions compared with the uncompressed raw materials,” the scientists conclude.
Source: www.acs.org
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