CSET Research in Green Chemistry Journal

Kaige Wang, a researcher with the Center for Sustainable Environmental Technologies (CSET), and Robert C. Brown, CSET and BEI director, are featured with a inside-front cover story in Green Chemistry’s March 2013 issue. The article discusses new technology that may move microalgae biorefineries one step closer to economic and environmental feasibility.

In the article, “Catalytic pyrolysis of microalgae for production of aromatics and ammonia,” the researchers report on an economically- and environmentally-promising microalgae biorefinery pathway. It uses catalytic pyrolysis with HZSM-5 catalyst to convert whole microalgae into aromatic hydrocarbons. This process produces valuable petrochemicals and ammonia, the latter of which can be recycled as a fertilizer for microalgae cultivation. Microalgae present many advantages as a feedstock for biofuel. With the promise catalytic pyrolysis offers for solving some of microalgae’s disadvantages, microalgae biorefineries move one step closer to economic and environmental feasibility.  Read article in Green Chemistry

tcbiomass 2013 to be Held Sept. 3-6, 2013, in Chicago

tcbiomass2013, the International Conference on Thermochemical Biomass Conversion Science, will take place Sept. 3-6, 2013, in downtown Chicago. Participate in this premier 3-day forum for technology exchange and help accelerate the progress toward the maturity of bioenergy technologies. Stay tuned here for more updates on CSET’s and Iowa State’s participation in this important event.

Energy-Tech: “Co-fire pellets” for emissions reduction and renewable energy generation

Andrew Friend, a graduate research assistant for the Center for Sustainable Environmental Technologies, writes about biomass co-firing with coal as a simple and inexpensive way to reduce CO₂ and other greenhouse gas emissions from power plants. The article appears in the July 2012 issue of Energy-Tech magazine. Read the article in Energy-Tech