In Ohio, drought and shifting weather patterns affect North America's largest native fruit

JOSHUA A. BICKEL and SUMAN NAISHADHAM

Updated Mon, September 23, 2024 

WASHINGTON COURT HOUSE, Ohio (AP) — Stubborn drought in Ohio and the shifting weather patterns influenced by climate change appear to be affecting North America’s largest native fruit: the pawpaw.

Avocado-sized with a taste sometimes described as a cross between a mango and banana, the pawpaw is beloved by many but rarely seen in grocery stores in the U.S. due to its short shelf life. The fruit grows in various places in the eastern half of North America, from Ontario to Florida. But in parts of Ohio, which hosts an annual festival dedicated to the fruit, and Kentucky, some growers this year are reporting earlier-than-normal harvests and bitter-tasting fruit, a possible effect of the extreme weather from the spring freezes to drought that has hit the region.

Take Valerie Libbey’s orchard in Washington Court House, about an hour’s drive from Columbus. Libbey grows 100 pawpaw trees and said she was surprised to see the fruit dropping from trees in the first week of August instead of mid-September.

“I had walked into the orchard to do my regular irrigation and the smell of the fruit just hit me,” said Libbey, who added that this year’s harvest period was much shorter than in previous years and the fruits themselves were smaller and more bitter.

While Libbey attributes the change to heat-stress, it’s not clear if drought alone — which is gripping parts of Ohio and Kentucky for the third year in a row — or increasingly extreme, unpredictable weather are affecting the fruit.

“Pawpaw growers are finding we just have to be prepared for more extreme weather events. Last year we were hit with late spring freezes that killed off a lot of the blossoms in the spring time period. This year we were hit by the drought,” Libbey said.

That’s in line with the effects human-caused climate change is having on the Midwest according to the National Climate Change Assessment, a government report that comes out every four or five years. Last year's report said that both extreme drought and flooding were threatening crops and animal production in the region.

“We’re definitely seeing kind of a change in our weather patterns here,” said Kirk Pomper, a professor of horticulture at Kentucky State University. He added that the easiest way to observe the effect of changing weather patterns on pawpaws is when the trees flower, which tends to happen earlier now than before.

Chris Chmiel, who owns and operates a small farm in Albany, Ohio, about 90 minutes southeast of Columbus, said he used to have several hundred pawpaw trees but is down to about 100 this year thanks to erratic weather patterns, including extremely wet weather some years followed by severe drought.

Chmiel said that pawpaw trees, which are generally considered low-maintenance, don't like to have their roots submerged in water for too long, which his trees experienced in 2018 and 2019 during particularly wet spring conditions.

Since then, Chmiel saw a large decline in his trees, especially the older ones, which produce ethanol when stressed and attracted an invasive beetle that was damaging to the tree.

“For years, we had great crops year after year,” said Chmiel, who described the invasive beetles as the biggest recent challenge. But, he added, some of his pawpaw trees come from the wild where the plants were exposed to several microclimates and habitats.

The pawpaw was domesticated by Native American tribes, and has supplemented many communities' diets since then.

Because pawpaw trees are native to the region, they have long been considered hardy. Chmiel is hoping that will help his remaining trees survive unpredictable weather and invasive species.

“I feel like that is a resilient system,” Chmiel said.

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Naishadham reported from Washington, D.C.

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For all of AP’s environmental coverage, visit https://apnews.com/hub/climate-and-environment ___

The Associated Press’ climate and environmental coverage receives financial support from multiple private foundations. AP is solely responsible for all content. Find AP’s standards for working with philanthropies, a list of supporters and funded coverage areas at AP.org.

Valerie Libbey holds a normal-sized pawpaw, left, next to a drought-affected pawpaw from her farm, Wednesday, Sept. 18, 2024, in Washington Court House, Ohio. (AP Photo/Joshua A. Bickel)
ASSOCIATED PRESS

Canadian Firm Plans $1.3B Biomethane Plant at Port of South Louisiana

Courtesy Woodland Biofuel

Published Sep 18, 2024 4:17 PM by The Maritime Executive

Canadian energy company Woodland Biofuels has reached an agreement to build a $1.35 billion wood waste-to-biomethane plant at the Port of South Louisiana, the firm announced Wednesday. Upon completion, it would be one of the largest renewable natural gas refineries in the world. 

The new plant would be located at a multimodal facility at the Port of South Louisiana, and would have financial and workforce support from the State of Louisiana and local partners. If all proceeds as planned, phase one of the project - gas production - could begin as early as 2028.  

In a later phase, it would remove hundreds of thousands of tons of carbon dioxide from its chemical process stream and store it underground. The carbon sequestration site would have to be determined at a future date, but Louisiana offers many options: its geology, its existing pipeline infrastructure and its many energy-industry stakeholders make it an attractive destination for carbon storage. The state already has more than 20 carbon sequestration projects in various stages of planning or permitting. 

Woodland began operations in the 2010s as a cellulosic ethanol startup, and it built a demonstration-scale plant in Sarnia, Ontario. Its process involves gasification of biomass, and it can capture carbon dioxide during plant operations. Its initial plans called for development of a full scale wood waste-to-ethanol plant in Ontario, coupled with carbon capture and sequestration to make the plant "carbon negative." It secured about CA$5 million in support from the Canadian government to move the full-scale project forward. 

"Sarnia is definitely our first choice for a plant location," Woodland CEO Greg Nuttall told the Sarnia Observer in 2021 - though he noted that the Ontario site plan was contingent on finding carbon sequestration capacity. “[Sequestration is] what makes it carbon negative, and it’s just kind of an unknown at the moment whether the infrastructure is going to be there in Sarnia."

Woodland says that the new plan to build a plant in Louisiana would create 110 well-paid new jobs, plus more than 250 indirect new jobs in the region and 500 temporary jobs during construction. 

"Our sustainable biofuel plant will be an economic driver for St. John Parish and beyond. We look forward to establishing deep ties with the local community, and drawing on the existing world-class workforce and utilizing Louisiana’s exceptional infrastructure to execute on our project," said Nuttall in a statement Wednesday. 

According to the Maersk McKinney-Moller Center for Zero-Carbon Shipping, biomethane has strong potential as a renewable fuel for shipping when liquefied into bio-LNG. However, the center's researchers have cautioned that biomethane has the same powerful climate-warming potential as fossil natural gas if it is leaked during production or transport, assuming all else is equal in the comparison. 

"One of the main concerns regarding widespread use of methane as an energy carrier is humanity’s scant track record in avoiding anthropogenic methane emissions to the atmosphere, which are currently estimated at 350 million tonnes per year," cautioned the Maersk Center's researchers. "We consider tightening of the regulations in the biogas industry as being of the utmost importance and urgency to ensure that new plants coming into operation have incorporated the right technology to be emissions-free."

 

Breakthrough study unveils key steps for turning CO2 into valuable chemicals

Fritz Haber Institute of the Max Planck Society

 

image: 

Turning CO2 into Valuable Chemicals

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Credit: © FHI

CO2 Reduction: A Pathway to Valuable Chemicals

The electrochemical reduction of CO2 (CO2RR) is a promising technology that uses renewable electricity to convert CO2 into high-value chemicals, effectively closing the carbon cycle. Ethylene and ethanol, the focus of this study, are crucial for producing environmentally-friendly plastics and fuels, respectively. However, the exact mechanisms and intermediate steps involved in this conversion have remained elusive until now. The former mechanistic understanding is crucial in order to rationally design the active sites, which we show here are not only present in the synthesized pre-catalyst, but can also be formed and evolve in the course of the reaction through the interaction with reactants and reaction intermediates.

Key Findings: Spectroscopic Insights and Theoretical Support

The research team led by group leader Dr. Arno Bergmann, Prof. Dr. Beatriz Roldán Cuenya and Prof. Dr. Núria López employed in-situ surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) and density functional theory (DFT) to investigate the molecular species on copper (Cu) electrocatalysts and thereby, gain insights into the reaction mechanism. Their findings reveal that the formation of ethylene occurs when specific intermediates, known as *OC-CO(H) dimers, form on undercoordinated Cu sites. Conversely, the production of ethanol requires highly compressed and distorted coordination environment of the Cu sites, with the key intermediate *OCHCH2.

Understanding the Role of Surface Morphology

One of the critical discoveries is the role of surface morphology in the reaction process. The team found that the undercoordinated Cu sites strengthen the binding of CO, a crucial step in the reduction process. These Cu sites, characterized by atomic-level irregularities, likely form under reaction conditions and make the catalytic surface more effective, leading to better performance in producing ethylene and ethanol.

Implications for the Chemical Industry

These findings have significant implications for the chemical industry, particularly in the production of plastics and fuels. By understanding the specific conditions and intermediates required for the selective production of ethylene and ethanol, researchers can design more efficient and sustainable catalysts. This could lead to more effective ways to utilize CO2, reducing the carbon footprint of chemical manufacturing processes.

Collaborative Effort

The study was a collaborative effort, with theoretical support from a research group in Spain. This partnership allowed for a comprehensive investigation, combining experimental and theoretical approaches to provide a detailed understanding of the CO2 reduction process.

Conclusion

The research conducted by the Interface Science Department at the Fritz Haber Institute and Institute of Chemical Research of Catalonia represents a significant step forward in the field of CO2 reduction. By unveiling the key intermediates and active sites involved in the production of ethylene and ethanol, this study provides a foundation for developing more efficient and sustainable catalytic processes. The findings not only advance scientific knowledge but also offer practical solutions for reducing CO2 emissions and promoting sustainable chemical production.

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Journal

Nature Energy

DOI

10.1038/s41560-024-01633-4 

Article Title

Key intermediates and Cu active sites for CO2 electroreduction to ethylene and ethanol

Ethanol: A viable alternative to sugar-based carbon sources for biomanufacturing

by Chinese Academy of Sciences

 SEPTEMBER 18, 2024

Ethanol biosynthesis and ethanol-based biomanufacturing. Credit: Biotechnology for Biofuels and Bioproducts (2024). DOI: 10.1186/s13068-024-02546-w

In a recent review published in Biotechnology for Biofuels and Bioproducts, a research team led by Associated Professor Wang Peng from the Hefei Institutes of Physical Science of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, in collaboration with Dr. Rodrigo Ledesma-Amaro from Imperial College London, provided a comprehensive overview of ethanol as a renewable carbon source for producing various high-value products, offering new perspectives for the development of eco-friendly industrial biotechnology processes.

Industrial biotechnology often relies on microbes to convert carbohydrate substrates from sugar- or starch-rich crops to valuable products. However, this reliance poses challenges as the global population grows and food scarcity worsens. Therefore, it is urgent to explore renewable carbon sources that do not compete with food supplies for sustainable bioprocessing.

Researchers presented a comprehensive analysis in this study, revealing the unique advantages of ethanol as a renewable substrate, summarizing microbial ethanol metabolism pathways and ethanol tolerance mechanisms, which provided a theoretical foundation for engineering industrial strains.

The study also reviewed the latest advancements in ethanol biosynthesis and ethanol-based biomanufacturing, including the production of high-value chemicals such as bioplastics, pharmaceutical precursors, and organic acids.

The researchers also discussed the potential challenges and outlined future research directions of ethanol-based biomanufacturing.

This research offers an alternative solution to the resource challenges faced by the biomanufacturing industry, contributing to reducing resource pressures and advancing sustainable, green development.

More information: Manman Sun et al, Microbial conversion of ethanol to high-value products: progress and challenges, Biotechnology for Biofuels and Bioproducts (2024). DOI: 10.1186/s13068-024-02546-w

Provided by Chinese Academy of Sciences Spectroscopic study unveils key steps for turning CO₂ into valuable chemicals

 

Renewables Accounted for 14.6% of Global Energy Consumption in 2023

By Robert Rapier - Aug 26, 2024

• Renewable energy's share of global energy consumption reached 14.6% in 2023, driven by record growth in solar and wind power.
• 
  
• China led the world in renewable energy production and capacity additions, particularly in wind and solar.
• 
  

Despite the rapid growth of renewables, overall energy demand continues to outpace supply, leading to increased fossil fuel consumption.

In June, the Energy Institute released the 2024 Statistical Review of World Energy. The Review provides a comprehensive picture of supply and demand for major energy sources on a country-level basis. Each year, I write a series of articles covering the Review’s findings.

In previous articles, I discussed:

• Overall highlights
• Trends in global carbon dioxide emissions
• Global production and consumption of petroleum
• Global production and consumption of natural gas
• Global production and consumption of coal
• Trends in nuclear power

Today I will discuss renewable energy, with a focus on the growth of wind and solar power.

Overview

In 2023, renewable energy sources surged to new heights. Renewables’ share of total primary energy consumption reached 14.6%, 0.4% above the previous year.

Solar and wind power drove global renewable electricity generation to a record-breaking 4,748 TWh, marking a 13% increase from the previous year. This growth accounted for 74% of all net additional electricity generated worldwide.

Solar power led the charge, with 346 GW of new capacity, smashing the 2022 record by 67%. China contributed a quarter of this growth. Europe, too, made significant strides, adding over 56 GW of solar capacity, making up 16% of the global total capacity increase.

Global Renewable Consumption (excluding hydropower). Robert Rapier

Wind power also soared to new heights, with over 115 GW of new capacity installed—another record. China again was at the forefront, responsible for nearly 66% of these additions. China’s total installed wind capacity now rivals that of North America and Europe combined. Offshore wind, a growing frontier in renewable energy, saw Europe holding the highest share at 12%, but China wasn’t far behind, boasting 37 GW compared to Europe’s 32 GW.

Meanwhile, the share of biofuels increased in the global energy mix. Production grew by over 17% from 2022, with the United States and Brazil leading the way. In 2024, bio-gasoline (predominantly ethanol) and biodiesel production reached a near-even split, with the U.S., Brazil, and Europe consuming the lion’s share of these renewable fuels.

The Top Producers

China dominates the world’s renewable energy production. Notably, both China and India — which have seen dramatic fossil fuel consumption growth in recent years — have increased renewable consumption at double-digit rates over the past decade.

Top 10 Renewable Energy Producers in 2023. Robert Rapier

There are a couple of caveats to note about this table. First, it excludes hydropower. The reason is even though hydropower generation contributes around as much as wind and solar, hydropower growth has been relatively stable for years. This table basically shows the growth trajectory of modern renewables like wind and solar power.

Second, the numbers are reported as “Input-equivalent energy”, which is the amount of fuel that would be required by thermal power. This accounts for the lower efficiencies of converting coal, for example, into electricity. In other words, for a given amount of solar power, the table is calculating how much coal or natural gas would be required to produce that much power.

Conclusions

Renewable energy, particularly wind and solar, continue to grow at rapid rates. With record-breaking growth in capacity and generation, these modern renewables continue to supplement traditional energy sources.

China continues to dominate the renewable sector, driving much of the global expansion, while the U.S., Europe, and Brazil also make significant contributions, particularly in biofuels.

As the world strives to reduce carbon emissions and transition to cleaner energy, renewables will play a critical role in shaping a sustainable and resilient energy future. However, to date overall energy demand continues to outpace the growth in renewables, which has meant that fossil fuel consumption has also continued to grow.

By Robert Rapier

 

This New Methane Conversion Innovation Could Be Huge for Shale

By Alex Kimani - Aug 27, 2024

Scientists at Brookhaven National Laboratory developed a highly selective catalyst that converts methane to methanol in a single, low-temperature step, potentially simplifying industrial processes.

This breakthrough could help utilize stranded natural gas reserves, reducing the need to transport hazardous liquified natural gas. 

If scalable, the technology could lower methane emissions from the oil and gas sector, contributing to cleaner energy and environmental goals.

The U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Brookhaven National Laboratory and scientists at several collaborating institutions have engineered a highly selective catalyst that can convert methane into methanol in a single, one-step reaction at a temperature lower than required to make tea. This discovery marks a big step forward over more complex traditional conversions that typically require three separate reactions, running at vastly higher temperatures. On an industrial scale, the simplicity of the system could mark a breakthrough in tapping “stranded” natural gas reserves in isolated rural areas, far from chemical refineries and other costly infrastructure, says Brookhaven chemist and study co-author Sanjaya Senanayake. Such local deployments would remove the need to transport high-pressure, flammable liquified natural gas. According to the scientists, such local deployments would remove the need to transport high-pressure, flammable liquified natural gas. Methane is a major component of natural gas and a potent greenhouse gas while methanol is used as an alternative biofuel for internal combustion and other engines.  "We could scale up this technology and deploy it locally to produce methanol that can be used for fuel, electricity, and chemical production," Senanayake said.

Brookhaven Science Associates, which manages Brookhaven Lab on behalf of DOE, and the University of Udine have filed a patent cooperation treaty application on the use of the catalyst for one-step methane conversion and are exploring ways to work with entrepreneurial partners to bring the technology to market. This discovery builds on results from previous studies with the new recipe for the catalyst containing an additional ingredient: a thin layer of "interfacial" carbon between the metal and oxide.

"Carbon is often overlooked as a catalyst. But in this study, we did a host of experiments and theoretical work that revealed that a fine layer of carbon between palladium and cerium oxide really drove the chemistry. It was pretty much the secret sauce. It helps the active metal, palladium, convert methane to methanol," said chemical engineer Juan Jimenez, a Goldhaber postdoctoral fellow in Brookhaven Lab's Chemistry Division and the lead author of the paper published in the Journal of the American Chemical Society.

Also known as wood alcohol, methanol (CH3OH) is considered an alternative fuel under the Energy Policy Act of 1992 with chemical and physical fuel properties similar to ethanol. Methanol was used in the 1990s as an alternative fuel for compatible vehicles; however, current research mainly focuses on its potential use as a sustainable marine fuel.

Lowering Methane Emissions

It’s too early to determine the scalability and economic viability of the one-step catalytic conversion technology. However, if successful, it could prove useful in helping the U.S. shale patch clean up its act by cutting methane emissions. 

The U.S. Oil & Gas sector is producing 8x above the volume of methane many operators have pledged to achieve by 2030 to reach their climate goals, a fresh study by non-profit Environmental Defense Fund recently revealed. The environmental advocacy group conducted ~30 flights between June and October 2023, covering oil and gas basins that account for nearly three-quarters of onshore production. The data collected showed that, on average, around 1.6% of gross gas production is released as methane into the atmosphere, about eight times higher than pledged by producers under the Oil and Gas Climate Initiative and the Oil & Gas Decarbonization Charter. 

Over the past couple of decades, methane concentrations in the atmosphere have increased sharply, from 1,700 parts per billion (ppb) in 1990 to 1,930 ppb currently. Although methane is much less plentiful in the atmosphere compared to CO2, it’s still able to do plenty of damage at even lower concentrations thanks to being more than 80x more powerful at warming the earth than CO2 over 20 years and 28x more powerful on a 100-year timescale. The fossil fuel sector has been a major contributor to the rapid buildup of methane in the atmosphere, with emissions from venting, leakage, and flaring in the oil and gas sector currently estimated to be responsible for ~25% of global anthropogenic methane emissions. A single gas leak can be quite devastating: Last year, environmental intelligence firm Kayrros SAS deployed National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellites (GOES) to quantify a gas pipeline by the Williams Companies Inc. (NYSE:WMB) spewed about 840 metric tons of methane into the atmosphere after a farmer in Idaho accidentally ruptured it while using an excavator. Currently used for weather forecasts, scientists recently discovered that GOES is effective at detecting large methane emissions of around tens of metric tons an hour or larger. 

Last year, the U.S. pipeline regulator unveiled new rules aimed at lowering methane leaks from the vast network of 2.7 million miles of natural gas pipelines in the country. The proposal could "significantly improve the detection and repair of leaks from gas pipelines... deploy pipeline workers across the country to keep more product in the pipe, and prevent dangerous accidents,"  the Transportation Department's Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration said.

By Alex Kimani for Oilprice.com

WashU to lead $26 million decarbonization initiative

Washington University in St. Louis

By Beth Miller

To minimize the impact of man-made climate change, it is essential to significantly and rapidly decrease carbon dioxide emissions while simultaneously meeting the energy and manufacturing needs of a healthy and economically stable society. A powerhouse collaboration of universities and industry, led by the McKelvey School of Engineering at Washington University in St. Louis, is embarking on a bold plan to transform manufacturing toward zero or negative emissions by converting carbon dioxide ultimately into environmentally friendly chemicals and products that create a circular economy.

The Carbon Utilization Redesign for Biomanufacturing-Empowered Decarbonization (CURB) Engineering Research Center (ERC) is funded by a five-year, $26 million grant from the U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF). The award — one of only four the NSF awarded nationwide in 2024 — supports convergent projects that include research, education, commercialization, workforce development, and diversity and inclusion that will lead to societal change.

“The vision of CURB is as a vibrant global research and innovation ecosystem that transforms U.S. manufacturing by capturing and leveraging carbon dioxide emissions and thereby decreasing the human ecological footprint,” said Aaron F. Bobick, dean and the James M. McKelvey Professor in McKelvey Engineering. “For McKelvey Engineering to lead this research project represents the increased sophistication of the school’s research and its ability to support an activity of this scale and in alignment with our strategic priorities.”

McKelvey Engineering brings its broad, unique experience with the nation’s first Department of Energy, Environmental & Chemical Engineering to lead the ambitious project in collaboration with prominent researchers at the University of Delaware, Prairie View A&M University and Texas A&M University.

‘’This is not just another grant — this center has the opportunity to transform the U.S. economy,” said Joshua Yuan, chair of the Department of Energy, Environmental & Chemical Engineering in McKelvey Engineering, the Lucy & Stanley Lopata Professor and director of CURB. “Because of low photosynthesis efficiency, there is no way that the current bioprocesses can replace all petrochemical products using limited land and natural resources. CURB will create highly efficient chem-bio hybrid systems to convert renewable energy and carbon dioxide into chemicals, fuels and materials. This will decarbonize U.S. manufacturing and replace a substantial amount of petrochemical products. CURB will drive a new circular carbon economy to fulfill the needs of human society while mitigating carbon emission. That is what is at stake with this center.”

Yuan leads the center with co-principal investigators Feng Jiao, professor of energy, environmental & chemical engineering, and Marcus Foston, associate professor of energy, environmental & chemical engineering, both at WashU; Susie Dai, associate professor of plant pathology and microbiology at Texas A&M University; and Irvin W. Osborne-Lee, professor of chemical engineering at Prairie View A&M. They are joined by 10 tenured faculty members and two senior lecturers from McKelvey Engineering, as well as 30 faculty members at seven universities; more than 30 corporate, innovation and education partners; and extensive administrative support. Twenty-one companies have committed as member organizations for the project. Among them are Brewer Science Inc.; JERA Americas Inc.; MilliporeSigma; Nestle Purina; Peabody; Skytree B.V.; Spire; and Southwest Airlines.

Among CURB’s strategic goals include advancing scientific discoveries to create new hybrid engineering systems creating pilot-scale testbed facilities; demonstrating the economics and publishing the research results; filing for patents; and developing new educational programs for middle and high school students and undergraduate and graduate students, among others. By the end of the first five years, they expect to have expanded the member network, hosted multiple showcase events, created more than 20 internships with industry partners and launched startup companies based on the research to transform U.S. manufacturing.

“I’m thrilled that the McKelvey School of Engineering was chosen to lead this ambitious decarbonization initiative,” said Chancellor Andrew D. Martin. “This endeavor represents a significant investment in research and innovation, showcasing the advanced capabilities of our institution and aligning with our core mission. We look forward to collaborating with our partners to generate new opportunities and make a lasting positive impact.”

“This funding, and the work that will result, demonstrates WashU's strategic vision in which societal challenges are solved through the strengths of our region and our university,” said Beverly Wendland, WashU provost and executive vice chancellor for academic affairs. “Collaboration that convenes disciplines, universities and industries will bring about world-class research that leads to real-world solutions, and I am incredibly proud our McKelvey colleagues are leading this effort. This is a powerful signal for the future of research on our Danforth Campus and the impact WashU and St. Louis can make together.”

 

The research

CURB will use a Hybrid Electro-Bio CO2 Utilization System (HEBCUS) that uses electrocatalysis to turn waste carbon dioxide into intermediate substances, such as ethanol, acetate and propionate. These intermediates will be compatible with biomanufacturing systems that can more efficiently convert them into a range of products, such as platform chemicals, biofertilizers and other environmentally responsible materials.

The team will design and optimize two types of HEBCUS: one that uses microbial cells to convert carbon dioxide and one that uses enzymes. The system will be 10 times more efficient than natural processes, such as photosynthesis, and requires fewer steps. CURB will drive new research areas that connect with HEBCUS systems, including integrating renewable energy sources, energy storage applications and biomanufacturing of diverse products.  

“Soluble multi-carbon intermediates produced with HEBCUS present a unique advantage over methanol, formate, hydrogen and carbon monoxide-based platforms, enabling substantially improved mass, energy and electron transfers that overcome the gas-to-liquid transfer challenges of hydrogen and carbon monoxide, compatibility with many microbes for efficient conversion into a broad range of products with fewer steps, and the design of multi-enzyme cell-free systems for chemical and polymer synthesis with fewer steps,” Jiao said.

Researchers will then take the new materials and test them for life cycle emissions, supply chain design, market for new products, and environmental justice impact, among other things to identify potential barriers to commercialization and ways to improve the societal, environmental, economic and ecological impacts.

“The goal is to make this process so effective that it is as cost effective to make your materials out of the carbon dioxide you pull out of the air as it would be to pull oil out of the ground, because then it’s economically viable,” Bobick said. “Nothing will change until we achieve that, because there is unlikely to be a policy approach that provides a sustainable way out of global warming or climate change. You have to make it economically viable.”

 

Workforce development

The new technology designed and implemented through CURB is expected to create new jobs that will create new opportunities for people in the community. In addition to jobs, CURB will create new career and training pathways for upskilling, a workforce transition into sectors that are difficult to decarbonize, such as chemical production, through biomanufacturing. This transition aims to enhance U.S. workers’ ability to support themselves and their families while contributing to sustainability of U.S. manufacturing.

“As part of this ERC, we are focused on the workforce development that goes along with a new industry that relies on a new pathway for carbon,” Foston said. “The United States has a strong foundation in biomanufacturing for pharmaceuticals and vaccines. CURB seeks to broaden this expertise to encompass chemicals and materials, thereby driving a comprehensive shift toward biomanufacturing. This initiative begins with education and outreach, establishing a pipeline as early as K-12 schools to cultivate the next generation of engineers and skilled workers in these emerging fields.”

“Building an inclusive innovation system that brings technologies to market that solve broad societal challenges through the bioeconomy is core to the mission of BioSTL,” said Justin Raymundo, vice president of innovation ecosystem-building for BioSTL, the backbone organization for the bioscience innovation ecosystem in St. Louis and CURB innovation partner. “These types of efforts, such as CURB, are exactly what we want to see. It represents continued investment in St. Louis and our innovation economy. We’re excited to contribute significantly to CURB’s leadership in U.S. manufacturing every step of the way and collaborate across community engagement, workforce development, and innovation ecosystem efforts — from idea to growth stage — to create opportunities, jobs and have a huge societal impact into the circular economy.”

 

NSF Engineering Research Center (ERC)

Since the program began in 1985, NSF has funded 75 ERCs throughout the United States. With up to 10 years of support for each center, this investment has led to more than 240 spinoff companies; more than 900 patents; more than 14,400 total bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degrees to ERC students; and numerous research outcomes enabling new technologies.

"NSF's Engineering Research Centers ask big questions in order to catalyze solutions with far-reaching impacts," said NSF Director Sethuraman Panchanathan. "NSF Engineering Research Centers are powerhouses of discovery and innovation, bringing America's great engineering minds to bear on our toughest challenges. By collaborating with industry and training the workforce of the future, ERCs create an innovation ecosystem that can accelerate engineering innovations, producing tremendous economic and societal benefits for the nation."

 

 

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The McKelvey School of Engineering at Washington University in St. Louis promotes independent inquiry and education with an emphasis on scientific excellence, innovation and collaboration without boundaries. McKelvey Engineering has top-ranked research and graduate programs across departments, particularly in biomedical engineering, environmental engineering and computing, and has one of the most selective undergraduate programs in the country. With 165 full-time faculty, 1,420 undergraduate students, 1,616 graduate students and 21,000 living alumni, we are working to solve some of society’s greatest challenges; to prepare students to become leaders and innovate throughout their careers; and to be a catalyst of economic development for the St. Louis region and beyond