It’s possible that I shall make an ass of myself. But in that case one can always get out of it with a little dialectic. I have, of course, so worded my proposition as to be right either way (K.Marx, Letter to F.Engels on the Indian Mutiny)
Sunday, November 15, 2026
Knowing how plants stretch out when warm could help dial back their response
Hongqing Guo, assistant professor of genetics, development and cell biology at Iowa State University, inside a plant growth room where she conducts genetic research on Arabidopsis thaliana to study plant health and survival.
AMES, Iowa — When they start to get too warm but before they’re dangerously hot, most plants employ a similar playbook. They change their shape, a host of adaptations that includes growing longer stems and stalks to promote air circulation.
The protective reactions to stressful but nonlethal heat, called thermomorphogenesis, help plants endure challenging conditions, but the downside for crops is lower yields. Though it’s a delicate balance, adjusting when a plant’s cooling strategies kick in would be useful for developing crops that are resilient to warmer weather with minimal production loss.
“We want plants to be able respond to the warmth, but in a way that’s not so responsive that they become frail,” said Hongqing “Michelle” Guo, an assistant professor of genetics, development and cell biology at Iowa State University.
New research led by Guo could help plant scientists find a sweet spot that preserves both resilience and yield. The recent study in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences identified a molecular mechanism for triggering the moderate-heat response, a crucial step toward fine-tuning how plants prioritize production and protection.
Uncovering a new connection
The new study builds on decades of research into phytochrome B (phyB), a plant protein that acts as a combination thermometer, light sensor and biological switch. When it is activated by absorbing sufficient light in favorable growing temperatures, phyB prevents plants from elongating. When an environment is too warm or dark for too long, phyB fades into a deactivated form and thermomorphogenesis begins.
Guo’s lab focuses largely on another long-studied plant protein called Feronia, a workhorse receptor that spans cell membranes. Positioned both inside and outside of cells, Feronia acts as a command center for how a plant responds to its environment, detecting and decoding signals that drive a wide range of processes related to plant health and growth.
Working with Arabidopsis thaliana, a flowering plant often used in genetic research, Guo noticed specimens mutated to lack Feronia didn’t react as intensely in settings warm enough to spur thermomorphogenesis. That implied a possible link to phyB, she said.
Looking for signs of a connection, researchers used a set of advanced whole-system analytical methods to compare natural and Feronia-free Arabidopsis. One of those methods was a phosphoproteomic analysis, which catalogs all the sites throughout a sample where adding a phosphate group could change a protein’s function — a process called phosphorylation that toggles biological actions on and off. The comparison flagged two phyB amino acids as possible control switches for Feronia, Guo said.
More a dimmer than a switch
To investigate, the research team used gene editing to create two experimental types of Arabidopsis that swapped out the phyB amino acids of interest. In the “null” version, they were replaced with an amino acid that can’t accept a phosphate group, preventing Feronia from acting on phyB. A “mimic” version was essentially the opposite, with replacements that imitated the effect of constantly being phosphorylated by Feronia.
The results matched what the researchers expected. At a little more than 80 degrees Fahrenheit, just outside the Arabidopsis comfort zone, the mimic plants grew taller than the natural variety while the null version had the most muted reaction. That shows that preventing Feronia from regulating phyB reduces its response to warmth, Guo said.
While thermomorphogenesis likely involves many phyB phosphorylation sites, seeing the impact from blocking just two of them suggests that inhibiting Feronia’s role in the process could have crop development value, Guo said. The aim is to prevent an overreaction, not all reaction — more of a dimmer dial than a light switch.
“Using precise genome editing to manipulate these two sites, or even just one at a time, could impact phyB just enough to manage the response without affecting yield,” she said.
What’s next?
The study was funded in part by Guo’s five-year, $1.8 million grant for promising early-career researchers from the National Institute of General Medical Sciences, a branch of the National Institutes of Health.
Her six collaborators included three Iowa State colleagues and three from the University of California, Riverside — including Meng Chen, an Iowa State doctoral graduate and UC-Riverside botany professor who died unexpectedly one day after paper was published.
“We’d really like to honor his memory,” Guo said.
The next steps for Guo’s research team could include conducting a similar experiment in a plant cultivated as a crop and exploring Feronia’s newfound role in thermal sensing.
“We're doing a lot of research right now on this point, trying to figure out if Feronia can sense temperature independently,” she said. “And even if Feronia itself isn’t a heat sensor, there might be other sensors it regulates.”
FERONIA phosphorylates the amino-terminal extension of phytochrome B to modulate plant light and temperature responses
SUNY Chancellor King announces $5 million investment in agritech research
Four SUNY campuses awarded funding through the SUNY Agritech Center to expand high-tech research, education, and training opportunities related to agriculture technology
SUNY The State University of New York
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Four SUNY Campuses Awarded Funding through the SUNY Agritech Center to Expand High-Tech Research, Education, and Training Opportunities Related to Agriculture Technology
Albany, NY — State University of New York Chancellor John B. King Jr. today announced a $5 million investment in agritech research to support four SUNY campuses with funding to expand research, education, and training opportunities for students related to agriculture technology. SUNY has more than 7,500 students enrolled in agriculture-related programs at campuses statewide, and launched the SUNY Agritech Center to support New York State’s farm workforce and promote the use of emerging technologies in agriculture.
"SUNY is proud to be a state leader in supporting and strengthening New York State’s agriculture industry and dedicate resources that will help our campuses continue to lead innovation in this area," said SUNY Chancellor King. "As the agriculture industry continues to advance, it is vital that we continue to invest in initiatives that prepare the highly skilled workforce of the future."
The SUNY Board of Trustees said, "Through the steadfast support of Governor Hochul and the State Legislature, SUNY can invest in initiatives that help strengthen New York State’s robust agriculture industry. We thank Governor Hochul and state leaders for their continued investment in SUNY, and our students."
According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Census of Agriculture, there are 30,650 farms in New York State, with farmland comprising of 21.6 percent of the state’s area. Farming contributes $2.7 billion to New York State’s GDP, and farming and related businesses directly supported nearly 165,000 jobs in New York State.
New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets Commissioner Richard A. Ball said, "We are appreciative of SUNY’s commitment to furthering agricultural education and expanding resources for students interested in agriculture as a career. These grants build so well on SUNY’s Agritech Center and its partnership with FFA, and complement the work being done here at the Department of Agriculture and Markets to strengthen our agricultural workforce pipeline, invest in agricultural education, and prepare students for jobs in various agricultural sectors. I look forward to seeing these projects take shape across our SUNY campuses, giving the next generation the opportunity to work with emerging technologies, gain critical hands-on experience, and ensure that our future leaders have the high-tech skills and training they need to succeed in today’s changing industry."
SUNY offers a variety of agriculture and other related programs on campuses across New York State, including Agribusiness Management, Equine Science, Environmental Science, Viticulture, Veterinary Science, and Food Systems & Technology. Agricultural innovations being researched in the SUNY system include climate protections like carbon sequestration and agrivoltaics research, robotic deployments, invasive species and pest control practices, and farm-based data collection and research.
To further support opportunities for students related to agriculture technology, the SUNY Board of Trustees has allocated $5 million in capital funding to scale high-tech research, education, and training opportunities. The award recipients include:
$1.15 million to Alfred State College to develop a Data Integrated Animal Production Systems Technician certificate, as well as a microcredential in Agricultural Data Management to integrate AI and other technologies. The campus will upgrade internet access to all barns, classrooms, and labs, invest in Wi-Fi enabled grazing management systems, monitoring systems for beef cattle, and handing and health monitoring systems for sheep and goats. Additionally, Alfred State College will install manure handling robots, as well as a retention system and pumps. Alfred State College will also partner with the New York State College of Agriculture and Life Sciences at Cornell University, Finger Lakes Dairy Service, and DeLaval Dairy Services.
$1.15 million to SUNY Cobleskill Ag & Tech to develop New York State’s first statewide agribiotech network that integrates autonomous farm and drone machinery, robotics, AI-enabled agronomy, biotechnology, alternative fuel systems, and circular-economy agricultural models. The campus will acquire a variety of technologies to support the initiative, including precision planter technology, precision-guided tractor systems, drone-based imaging, sensing platforms, AI-enabled field monitoring systems, weed-zapping technology for sustainable weed management, precision spraying for sustainable nutrient management, and precision calf feeding equipment. SUNY Cobleskill Ag & Tech will also partner with SUNY Poly and the Griffiss Institute.
$1.35 million to SUNY Delhi to develop curriculum and purchase equipment as part of a fully equipped, state-of-the-art robotics and automation laboratory. The program will be relevant to food and dairy processing, automated packaging, conveying and material handling, temperature and environmental controls, refrigeration-related controls, warehousing, and other industrial and agricultural supply-chain operations, including robotic arms and training cells, electrical and motor-control trainers, and more. SUNY Delhi will pursue partnerships with employers as part of the initiative.
$35 million to SUNY Morrisville to build New York State’s agritech workforce through a living agricultural innovation lab. The initiative will center around a mobile, solar-powered trailer, establishing a living laboratory for applied agritech innovation and workforce development, and will include drones and image processing technology, a precision-GPS tractor, reduced-tillage strip-till equipment, liquid manure injection, precision liquid-fertilizer corn planter, air seeder, and an AI-powered barn camera system. SUNY Morrisville will also partner with Mohawk Valley Community College, Cornell Cooperative Extensions, Madison County Industrial Development Agency and White’s Farm Supply.
To learn more about agriculture-focused courses available at SUNY campuses throughout New York State, visit https://www.suny.edu/agriculture.
Alfred State President Steven Mauro said, "We are grateful to SUNY for this transformative investment in Alfred State and New York agriculture. This funding will expand hands-on learning opportunities for our students through cutting-edge technologies in AI, agricultural data management, precision livestock monitoring, and automation. By enhancing our facilities and strengthening partnerships with industry leaders, we are preparing graduates with the skills needed to lead the future of animal agriculture and agricultural technology."
SUNY Cobleskill Ag & Tech President Marion Terenzio said, "Sustainable agriculture and technology are the two fields that most directly shape human and environmental well-being, and they are strongest when they move forward together. With this investment, SUNY’s Agritech Center is turning its campuses into a connected network for agricultural innovation, where research in robotics, data, and precision farming goes straight from the lab to the field. SUNY Cobleskill is proud to be part of this work because together we can prepare the workforce and develop the practices that will keep New York agriculture productive and sustainable. More than 30,000 farms across our state are facing a future where they must feed the population and look after the land, and technology will be central to how they do both. SUNY is making sure New York is ready for that future."
SUNY Delhi President Mary Bonderoff said, "New York’s agricultural economy depends on more than what happens on the farm. It also relies on skilled technicians who keep the increasingly sophisticated systems used in food and dairy processing, packaging, refrigeration, and distribution running. This investment will build on SUNY Delhi’s established strengths in Mechatronics and Electrical Controls by enhancing our curriculum, expanding hands-on training in robotics and automation, and creating opportunities to grow enrollment in these high-demand fields. By preparing students with the advanced technical skills needed to support agriculture and related industries, we can open doors to rewarding careers while meeting critical workforce needs in our region. We are grateful to Chancellor King, the SUNY Board of Trustees, and New York State for their continued investment in our students and communities."
SUNY Morrisville President Michelle Coach said, "We are excited to receive this $1.35 million investment, which will establish a mobile agricultural innovation lab at SUNY Morrisville, bringing emerging agricultural technologies and equipment to our students and giving them valuable experience with the tools and practices shaping the future of agriculture. This builds on SUNY Morrisville’s tradition of hands-on learning while helping prepare students for careers in a changing agricultural industry and strengthening New York’s workforce alongside Mohawk Valley Community College. We appreciate SUNY’s investment in Morrisville and the opportunities it will create for our students and industry partners."
State Senator Toby Ann Stavisky, Chair of the Senate Higher Education Committee said, "Farming in New York is increasingly a high-tech industry. Many of today’s farmers manage data and run robotic systems to improve their productivity. This investment puts those same tools in the hands of students, so they graduate ready for the work ahead. With agriculture supporting nearly 165,000 jobs in our state, what it produces reaches families across New York."
State Senator Michelle Hinchey, Chair of the Senate Agriculture Committee, said, "New York agriculture is foundational to our everyday lives and statewide economy, and keeping it strong for generations to come means investing in the cutting-edge research and careers that will carry the industry forward. I was proud to help secure this capital investment for SUNY, and I thank Chancellor King and the SUNY Board of Trustees for putting it to work expanding agritech research, education, and innovative technologies. Congratulations to Alfred State, SUNY Cobleskill, SUNY Delhi, and SUNY Morrisville on these well-deserved awards, which will help harness the full potential of New York agriculture to protect our food supply and fight food insecurity."
State Senator George Borrello said, "This $5 million investment will expand opportunities for SUNY students to engage in high-tech agricultural research and gain hands-on experience with the advanced technologies that are transforming modern farming. From artificial intelligence and robotics to precision agriculture and automation, these state-of-the-art research and training opportunities will help prepare the next generation of agricultural professionals for a rapidly evolving industry. As Ranking Member of the Senate Agriculture Committee, I’m pleased to see SUNY strengthening these important educational and career pathways. By equipping students with the skills and expertise to drive agricultural innovation, we’re investing not only in their futures, but in the long-term strength, productivity and competitiveness of New York’s agricultural industry."
State Assemblymember Alicia L. Hyndman, Chair of the Assembly Committee on Higher Education, said, "Congrats to Alfred State, SUNY Cobleskill, SUNY Delhi and SUNY Morrisville on the $5 million investment in agritech research. The funds provided will help New York’s 30,650 farms stay up-to-date by using 21st-century emerging technologies and support the nearly 165,000 farm-related jobs in the state."
State Assemblymember Donna Lupardo, Chair of the Agriculture Committee, said, "I want to thank SUNY Chancellor King for making this important investment in agricultural technology possible. The support being extended to four of the SUNY system’s leaders in agricultural education will make a tangible difference. This commitment will ultimately connect farms to innovative technologies, while attracting and developing the skilled workforce we need for the future."
SUNY has worked to expand opportunities for students to pursue agriculture as a career field and inform prospective students about agriculture programs at SUNY. In March, Chancellor King highlighted agriculture programs available on SUNY campuses for New York City students during a college fair and information session at the SUNY Global Center. In February, Chancellor King announced a partnership with New York State Future Farmers of America to help prospective students learn more about the agriculture-focused courses available on SUNY campuses. In November 2025, SUNY launched the SUNY Agritech Center by holding 26 listening sessions across New York, and SUNY officials have engaged with stakeholders representing all regions of the state including state lawmakers, farmers, industry groups, agriculture non-profits, small business advisors, faculty, students, and early education partners, which will help guide SUNY programs to ensure they meet the current and future needs of New York’s agriculture industry. In September 2023, SUNY convened the first Agricultural Technology Workforce Readiness Summit at SUNY New Paltz and announced the first rounds of agriculture and technology grants utilized by SUNY campuses for agriculture-related projects.
About the State University of New York The State University of New York is the largest comprehensive system of higher education in the United States, and more than 95 percent of all New Yorkers live within 30 miles of any one of SUNY’s 64 colleges and universities. Across the system, SUNY has four academic health centers, five hospitals, four medical schools, two dental schools, a law school, the country’s oldest school of maritime, the state's only college of optometry, 12 Educational Opportunity Centers, over 30 ATTAIN digital literacy labs, and manages one US Department of Energy National Laboratory. In total, SUNY serves about 1.7 million students across its portfolio of credit- and non-credit-bearing courses and programs, continuing education, and community outreach programs. SUNY oversees nearly a quarter of academic research in New York. Research expenditures system-wide are nearly $1.5 billion in fiscal year 2025, including significant contributions from students and faculty. There are more than three million SUNY alumni worldwide, and annually one in three New Yorkers who earn a college degree is a SUNY alum. To learn more about how SUNY creates opportunities, visit suny.edu.
Study uncovers plant sensing mechanism to guard against pests
A new study has identified a previously unknown mechanism by which plants sense insect attack and activate defense responses.
Published in Nature on November 12, the study was conducted by researchers at the Center for Excellence in Molecular Plant Sciences (CEMPS) of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) led by CHEN Xiaoya, in collaboration with WAN Li’s team.
Insect pests threaten crop production and cause substantial damage to vegetation. During feeding, herbivorous insects release oral secretions containing digestive enzymes that hydrolyze plant macromolecules to facilitate nutrient acquisition. The products of this digestive process may also act as host-derived signaling molecules.
However, how plants perceive these molecules and activate downstream defense responses had largely been a mystery.
In this study, the researchers discovered that, during feeding, the rice green stink bug secretes the T2 ribonuclease NVR1 into plant tissues, where it generates 2′,3′-cyclic nucleotides (2′,3′-cNMPs), which are perceived by NIB1, a glycine-rich RNA-binding protein in rice.
Binding of these products promotes liquid–liquid phase separation of NIB1 and the formation of nuclear condensates that recruit the core immune regulator EDS1, thereby activating downstream defense responses.
While T2 ribonucleases are commonly present in herbivorous insects, including the rice leaf folder, green mirid, and cotton bollworm, NIB1-homologous RNA-binding proteins are widely distributed across land plants. This signaling mechanism may be a broadly deployed strategy in plant–insect interactions.
Exogenous application of these RNA degradation products elicits plant defense responses, highlighting their potential as immune activators for crop protection.
More broadly, this study provides a conceptual advance, opens the door to further exploring the involvement of RNA-centered networks in plant immunity and adaptation, and offers potential applications in plant protection.
Even plants, from towering palm trees to vegetables such as onions and eggplants, can get stressed. Now, a team of engineers has designed a new kind of sensor that attaches directly to plants and peers inside of them to track how they respond to stressors such as drought and fires in real time. Described in a study publishing November 12 in the Cell Press journal Cell Reports Physical Science, the coin-sized device is made up of a sensor and incredibly small needles that poke inside plants without harming plants in the process. The team hopes the device could one day help farmers know when their plants are stressed out.
“For Saudi Arabia and other arid regions, where agricultural production is strongly influenced by high temperatures and limited water resources, technologies that improve our understanding of plant stress responses could be especially valuable,” says first author Mufeeda Mundummal of King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) in Thuwal, Saudi Arabia.
The research hinges on a small but important molecule: hydrogen peroxide. Plants naturally produce small quantities of hydrogen peroxide throughout the day. The molecule sends signals that help plants activate their defenses against pathogens such as fungi and bacteria.
When plants are exposed to stressful conditions, such as too much heat or light, their cells can produce a surge of hydrogen peroxide. At high doses, the molecule damages plant tissues and may cause other problems.
Monitoring hydrogen peroxide levels in plants has proved tricky for scientists—at least, without causing damage by collecting pieces from plants.
“Plants are constantly responding to their surrounding environment, but many of these responses are invisible to us,” says senior author Khaled Salama of KAUST.
Salama and his colleagues wanted to make the invisible visible. To do that, the team used a laser to create a sensor for hydrogen peroxide made out of graphene. The sensor sits in a device that is about the size of a small coin and rests on top of plant leaves.
The device’s needles are just 0.4 millimeters wide and can suck up small amounts of fluid from inside leaves. They’re also so tiny that they don’t cause the plants any serious injuries.
In a series of experiments, the researchers put the sensors to the test. They attached the devices to Aloe vera plants growing in a greenhouse. Then, they shined especially bright lights on some of the plants.
The succulents got a little stressed out. At normal growing temperatures, or around 19 degrees Celsius (66 degrees Fahrenheit), hydrogen peroxide levels in the plants began to spike almost immediately after the team turned on the bright lights. That surge was even more severe at hotter growing temperatures, or 28 degrees Celsius (82 degrees Fahrenheit). In both cases, the hydrogen peroxide levels declined after about an hour.
The findings that plants react so much to changes in temperature and light could spell trouble for many important plant species as the planet’s climate changes, and heat waves grow more common, say the authors.
The team still has work to do before real farmers can use the devices to monitor their plants, including testing their designs on a range of different plant species, but their device could open the door to real-time insights on the inner workings of plants with an unprecedented level of detail.
“Our research moves plant-health monitoring toward direct measurement of physiological stress signals, rather than relying only on visible symptoms or external environmental conditions,” Mundummal says.
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This work was supported by funding from King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) and the center of excellence in sustainable food security.
Cell Reports Physical Science (@CellRepPhysSci), published by Cell Press, is a broad-scope, open access journal that publishes cutting-edge research across the spectrum of the physical sciences, including chemistry, physics, materials science, energy science, engineering, and related interdisciplinary work. Visit: https://www.cell.com/cell-reports-physical-science/home. To receive Cell Press media alerts, please contact press@cell.com.
Banana peel waste can be turned into edible coatings that help cherry tomatoes stay fresh longer. Cherry tomatoes coated with sodium alginate-based films containing different banana peel-derived components were evaluated during storage. The lipid-containing coating showed the strongest preservation performance, reducing weight loss and slowing respiration, ethylene production, softening, and other indicators of postharvest deterioration compared with uncoated tomatoes.
Fukuoka, Japan—Fruits and vegetables keep “breathing” even after they’re picked. Respiration consumes sugars and organic acids that contribute to flavor, while moisture loss and continued ripening soften the fruit. These changes shorten shelf life and contribute to food waste. Thin edible coatings can be applied to regulate gas and water transfer and preserve fresh produce. Now, food scientists are exploring whether by-products we often discard could supply ingredients for these coatings.
In a study published in Food Bioscience on October 1, 2026, a team led by Professor Fumihiko Tanaka and Associate Professor Fumina Tanaka of Kyushu University’s Faculty of Agriculture examined banana peels for this purpose. They added proteins, polysaccharides, or lipids extracted from the peels to an edible coating and compared their effects on cherry tomatoes. The lipid-containing coating was most effective at slowing moisture loss and keeping the tomatoes firm.
“We wanted to turn one source of waste into a way to reduce another,” says Jiao Zeng, the paper’s first author and a PhD student at Kyushu University. “Banana peels account for about a third of the fruit’s weight, yet they are usually discarded despite containing valuable compounds. We explored whether these compounds could help cherry tomatoes stay fresh for longer.”
The researchers extracted proteins, polysaccharides, and lipids from discarded banana peels and added each separately to a coating made from sodium alginate and cinnamaldehyde. Sodium alginate is a substance derived from brown seaweed that forms the coating’s film structure. Cinnamaldehyde, a compound found in cinnamon, contributes antimicrobial activity.
The researchers found that the three components affected the coating in different ways. Polysaccharides helped form a more closely connected network within the coating, while proteins contributed to interactions between its components. Lipids, meanwhile, formed water-repelling regions. Among the tested formulations, the lipid-enriched coating showed the most effective preservation performance.
“Lipids enhanced the hydrophobicity of the coating and significantly improved its moisture-barrier properties, thereby reducing water loss during storage,” explains Fumina Tanaka.
The team then tested the coatings on cherry tomatoes stored at 25 °C. By day 15, uncoated tomatoes suffered over 30% weight loss and visible decay, whereas all coated variants mitigated deterioration. The lipid-based coating performed best, maintaining marketable quality for over 20 days. The researchers also observed lower respiration and reduced ethylene production, which acts as the primary chemical trigger for fruit ripening. Coated tomatoes also showed a slower loss of firmness and less juice leakage.
Sensory tests of appearance, texture, aroma, and taste showed a similar pattern. The uncoated tomatoes fell below the study’s acceptable quality by day 15, while those treated with the lipid coating remained acceptable through day 20. They also maintained higher levels of soluble solids, including sugars that contribute to sweetness.
“Our study revealed how each component contributes to preservation,” notes Fumihiko Tanaka. “We hope to develop this approach further to reduce food loss and support a circular bioeconomy, where agricultural by-products become valuable resources.”
Although the coatings have so far been tested only on cherry tomatoes under specific storage conditions, the findings suggest promise for preserving fresh produce after harvest. The researchers plan to test fruits and vegetables with different ripening and storage characteristics to determine how widely they could apply the approach.
A banana peel’s usefulness could extend beyond the fruit it once protected. That potential may also apply to other agricultural by-products, offering new ingredients for food preservation while reducing waste and environmental impact. With further development, coatings tailored to different types of produce could help maintain quality from farm to market, giving growers and retailers more time to sell their products and consumers more time to enjoy them.
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For more information about this research, see “Fraction-specific regulation of barrier properties and postharvest physiology in alginate/cinnamaldehyde edible coatings incorporating banana peel waste-derived biomolecules for cherry tomato preservation,” Jiao Zeng, Xirui Yan, Fanze Meng, DongHui Luo, Reshaka Kavindi Malawara Arachchige, Saki Ishiko, Fumina Tanaka, and Fumihiko Tanaka, Food Bioscience, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fbio.2026.109756
About Kyushu University Founded in 1911, Kyushu University is one of Japan's leading research-oriented institutions of higher education, consistently ranking as one of the top ten Japanese universities in the Times Higher Education World University Rankings and the QS World Rankings. Located in Fukuoka, on the island of Kyushu—the most southwestern of Japan’s four main islands—Kyushu U sits in a coastal metropolis frequently ranked among the world’s most livable cities and historically known as Japan’s gateway to Asia. Its multiple campuses are home to around 19,000 students and 8,000 faculty and staff. Through its VISION 2030, Kyushu U will “drive social change with integrative knowledge.” By fusing the spectrum of knowledge, from the humanities and arts to engineering and medical sciences, Kyushu U will strengthen its research in the key areas of decarbonization, medicine and health, and environment and food, to tackle society’s most pressing issues.
Coal gasification is a key technology for the clean and efficient utilization of coal, but it produces large volumes of coal gasification fine slag (CGFS) characterized by high water content and low residual carbon reactivity. Stockpiling or landfilling this waste occupies space, risks secondary environmental pollution, and wastes coal resources. Direct reuse is difficult because the ultrafine particle size prevents it from being re-fed into gasifiers.
In a study published in ENG. Chem. Eng., researchers at the East China University of Science and Technology investigated using a carbon-rich residue (CR, with a fixed carbon content of 81.21%) separated from CGFS. They combined this CR with a corn stalk (CS) powder modified by an NaOH-urea solution to act as a binder, producing briquetted carbon-rich residue (BCR) via hot-pressing.
The team systematically optimized the briquetting conditions. When the CS binder content was lower than 15%, the mixed materials exhibited severe delamination. Optimal mechanical strength was achieved at a 25% binder content. Two-factor orthogonal experiments revealed that the optimal hot-pressing temperature was 175 °C and the optimal pressure was 7.5 MPa. Under these conditions, all BCR samples exhibited drop strengths exceeding 99.7%.
The height-to-diameter (H/D) ratio significantly affected the briquettes' properties. The BCR-0.8 sample exhibited the best mechanical strength, with a compressive strength of 620.8 N. However, increasing the H/D ratio compressed the internal pores and weakened gasification reactivity. Therefore, the BCR-0.4 sample, with a compressive strength of 333.0 N, was identified as having the optimal comprehensive performance, balancing mechanical strength and gasification reactivity.
The briquetting process also improved gasification performance. At 1000 °C, the raw CR required 13.9 minutes to reach a 90% carbon conversion rate, whereas the BCR-0.2 sample required only 8.9 minutes, a reduction of 5.0 minutes.
Mechanistic analysis showed that during binder preparation, NaOH disrupts the intermolecular hydrogen bond network of the corn stalk, releasing lignin, while urea undergoes an amidation reaction to generate viscous amide-N active substances. During hot-pressing at 175 °C, the softened lignin coats the CR particles, and the amide components bind tightly to them, forming a dense structure through chemical bonding, physical filling, and hot-pressing synergy.
The authors note that the proposed hot-pressing route is compatible with existing coal chemical solid waste treatment lines. Laboratory-scale equipment can be scaled up to industrial continuous roller-molding units without modifying the main gasifier, significantly reducing equipment renovation costs. This strategy also reduces both solid waste landfill costs and raw material procurement costs.
Hot-press briquetting of carbon-rich coal gasification residues using a corn-based biomass binder: mechanical strength, gasification reactivity, and binding mechanism
