Enzyme Technology Converts Methane to Methanol at Room Temperature
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Here are 10 recent discoveries:
1. Enzyme Technology Converts Methane to Methanol at Room Temperature
A team of researchers led by Professor Osami Shoji at Nagoya University in Japan has developed an innovative technology for converting methane, the primary component of natural gas, into methanol at room temperature in water.
Methane, abundant in natural gas, poses a challenge due to its chemical stability, requiring substantial energy for conversion.
To address this, the team focused on converting methane into methanol, a cleaner and more transportable fuel.
Traditional approaches used methane monooxygenase enzymes for this conversion, but their complex structure made mass production impractical.
The researchers devised a substrate misrecognition system, utilizing specially designed decoy molecules that mimic the enzyme's typical substrates.
When introduced to the enzyme, these decoy molecules are mistakenly accepted as the actual target, activating the enzyme to convert inert methane into valuable methanol.
The pivotal moment came when the team employed the enzyme P450BM3, derived from a bacterium and easily producible at a large scale.
Through extensive experimentation, they identified the most effective decoy molecule, enabling the efficient conversion of methane to methanol in water at room temperature.
This breakthrough could revolutionize the field by enabling the low-energy, environmentally friendly conversion of various hydrocarbons, extending beyond methane.
Source - https://phys.org/news/2023-09-carbon-footprint-methane-methanol-enzyme.html
2. Carbon Capture via Electrochemistry
About 23% of greenhouse gas emissions in the US come from the industrial sector, which includes steel, cement, and chemicals.
These emissions are challenging to reduce due to the need for high heat and CO2 process emissions, coupled with economic factors.
To combat this, researchers are focusing on carbon capture technology. Carbon capture involves extracting CO2 from concentrated sources, like flue gas, before it's released into the atmosphere.
Currently, the main issue hindering the widespread adoption of carbon capture is the energy-intensive and costly process of regenerating the captured CO2.
However, researchers at MIT have developed an electrochemical technique that not only releases captured CO2 but also converts it into something useful in a single step.
This approach is less energy-intensive and cleaner, making it easier to rely on renewable energy sources. Additionally, it reduces the energy requirement while creating valuable products, making it more economically viable.
The ultimate goal is to decarbonize the industrial sector while permanently storing emissions, contributing to a greener and more sustainable future.
Source - https://www.freethink.com/energy/carbon-capture-technology-electro-chemical
3. Green Cement Production with Electrochemical Breakthrough
Traditional cement manufacturing is a major contributor to global carbon emissions, responsible for about 8% of these emissions worldwide.
The process releases tons of CO2 for every ton of cement produced, making it a significant challenge for climate change mitigation.
MIT spinout Sublime Systems has introduced an innovative, true zero-carbon approach to cement-making, which could help combat this issue.
In conventional cement production, limestone is heated to high temperatures using fossil fuels, releasing CO2 emissions as a result.
Sublime's approach, on the other hand, is based on room-temperature electrolysis. It involves splitting water to produce hydrogen, oxygen gases, and calcium ions.
These calcium ions then react to form solid calcium hydroxide, which is a drop-in replacement for the lime used in traditional cement production.
This process is more energy-efficient, separates oxygen and CO2 gas streams, and can be adapted to use various feedstocks. It notably releases CO2 in a pure, cold state, which makes it easier to capture and store.
The goal is to reach cost parity with traditional cement manufacturing in the long term. Sublime aims to achieve this by scaling up its technology, with a demonstration plant set to be commissioned by the end of 2025.
Source - https://newatlas.com/materials/sublime-zerocarbon-concrete/
4. Flexible and Eco-Friendly Starch Plastic
Researchers from the State Key Laboratory of Pulp and Paper Engineering at South China University of Technology have developed a renewable and eco-friendly alternative material to plastic.
Starch is an abundant and renewable resource, making it a desirable material for bioplastics. However, it has limitations like brittleness and hydrophilicity, which restrict its wide application.
The researchers modified starch by creating dynamic imine bonds. These bonds could be broken and reformed when exposed to heat, enhancing the starch plastic's thermal processability.
The addition of long aliphatic chains in the modification process improved flexibility and hydrophobicity, making the starch plastic more versatile.
It can repair scratches and even large-area damage with a simple heat-pressing treatment, with a self-healing efficiency exceeding 88% for mechanical properties.
This innovative starch plastic holds promise for various practical applications and could serve as a sustainable alternative to traditional plastics.
Source - https://phys.org/news/2023-09-thermal-self-healing-fully-bio-based-starch.html
5. Storing Carbon in Dark Earth Centuries Ago
Indigenous farmers in the Amazon have been creating nutrient-rich soil, known as dark earth, for centuries.
This soil is packed with organic material and is found near human settlements.
It is thought that Indigenous farmers actively spread charcoal, ash, and organic waste to create dark earth. This soil is more fertile than typical Amazonian soil and contains a lot of carbon.
The carbon stored in dark earth could be released due to warming temperatures or unsustainable agriculture.
The fact that dark earth has been storing carbon for centuries suggests that storing carbon in soil today is a viable option for mitigating climate change.
6. The New Metallic Wonder Material Molybdenene
Researchers from Forschungszentrum Jülich, along with collaborators from the Indian Institute of Technology and the University of Newcastle, have created an exciting new two-dimensional material called "molybdenene."
This material consists of a single atomic layer of molybdenum atoms and exhibits metallic properties.
Molybdenene is similar in thickness to graphene, a well-known two-dimensional material made of carbon.
It was created by heating a mixture of molybdenum sulfide and graphene to high temperatures using microwaves.
Unlike many 2D materials, molybdenene is not sensitive to heat, making it exceptionally stable.
Its exceptional mechanical stability makes it ideal for use as a coating on electrodes to enhance the performance and durability of batteries.
Molybdenene shares some exotic electronic properties with graphene and has freely moving electrons, which make it a promising candidate for catalyzing chemical reactions.
Its thin, flat shape provides excellent protection against unwanted interference signals.
In practical applications, molybdenene can be used as a measuring tip for atomic force microscopy and surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy.
This unique material opens up exciting possibilities in the world of materials science and technology.
Source - https://scitechdaily.com/beyond-graphene-a-new-metallic-2d-material-molybdenene/
7. Sustainable Recycling Method for Lithium-ion Batteries
Lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) are widely used to power electronic devices due to their versatility, long lifespan, and fast charging.
However, the recycling of these batteries is a challenge, as existing methods can be harmful to the environment and costly. Additionally, LIBs rely on materials like cobalt and lithium that are becoming scarcer.
Researchers at the Chinese Academy of Sciences have introduced a novel approach called "contact-electro-catalysis" to recycle spent LIB cells, aiming to address these issues.
This method harnesses the transfer of electrons during liquid-solid contact electrification to generate free radicals that initiate desired chemical reactions.
The researchers achieved promising results, with high leaching efficiency for lithium and cobalt. For example, they achieved 100% lithium leaching efficiency and 92.19% for cobalt in a specific type of LIBs.
This innovative recycling method could offer a sustainable, cost-effective, and scalable solution for recovering valuable materials from used LIBs.
Source - https://techxplore.com/news/2023-09-method-recycle-materials-lithium-ion-batteries.html
8. Catalyst Support System Converts CO2 into Valuable Resources
Researchers at the Tokyo University of Science have developed a groundbreaking catalyst support system to convert carbon dioxide (CO2) into valuable resources while addressing environmental concerns.
Typically, conventional catalysts like gold and lead supported on conductive carbon are used to electrocatalytically reduce CO2.
However, the high pH environment during this process can degrade the catalyst support.
To tackle this issue, the team used titanium dioxide (TiO2) powder, commonly found in various products like sunscreen and toothpaste, as an alternative support material.
They improved its electrochemical properties through in-liquid plasma treatment. The treated TiO2 was then loaded with silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) to create a gas diffusion electrode for CO2 reduction.
The innovative system demonstrated a high selectivity for CO2 reduction, offering the potential to convert CO2 into valuable byproducts like syngas, a clean fuel.
This technology can be integrated with renewable energy sources, making it an environmentally friendly approach to tackle greenhouse gas emissions and combat climate change.
The study aligns with United Nations Sustainable Development Goals related to affordable and clean energy, responsible consumption and production, and climate action, contributing to a carbon-neutral and sustainable future.
9. Deep-Sea Enzyme Discovered for Plastic Degradation
A recent study involving scientists from Kiel University has uncovered a groundbreaking enzyme, PET46, derived from deep-sea microorganisms that continuously degrade plastics, such as polyethylene terephthalate (PET).
This discovery expands our knowledge of PET-degrading enzymes and their ecological roles.
PET46 stands out for its ability to break down both long-chain PET polymers and short-chain PET oligomers, ensuring continuous degradation.
The enzyme utilizes a unique mechanism for substrate binding, involving a distinctive 'lid' of 45 amino acids above the enzyme's active center, which is different from other known PET-degrading enzymes.
This finding is not only important for addressing plastic pollution in oceans but also holds promise for biotechnological applications.
PET46 shares similarities with an enzyme that degrades lignin in plant cell walls, suggesting its potential role in breaking down wood materials.
Moreover, PET46 operates efficiently at high temperatures, making it a valuable candidate for biotechnological processes.
The research emphasizes the importance of understanding plastic degradation for addressing environmental concerns and creating sustainable solutions.
Source - https://phys.org/news/2023-09-newly-deep-sea-enzyme-pet-plastic.html
10. Understanding Polymer Chain Behavior in Cavitating Solvent Flows
A breakthrough in polymer science by researchers at the University of Liverpool's Chemistry Department has provided valuable insights into how polymer chains in solution respond to sudden changes in solvent flow.
This discovery, published in Nature Chemistry, addresses a fundamental and technological question that has puzzled polymer scientists for decades.
This new approach, which utilizes mechanochemistry, has revealed a more complex and accurate understanding of polymer behavior under dynamic solvent conditions.
This advancement has significant implications for various fields in physical sciences and practical applications, particularly in industries that rely on polymer-based rheological control, such as enhanced oil and gas recovery, long-distance piping, and photovoltaics manufacturing.
Professor Roman Boulatov, one of the researchers, explained that their findings could potentially challenge the current understanding of how polymer chains behave in cavitational solvent flows.
The research team aims to expand the capabilities of their method and apply it to gain deeper insights into molecular-level physics and its applications in various industries.
Source - https://phys.org/news/2023-09-chemists-long-standing-polymer-science-puzzle.html
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