Global Climate News

Japan-based Green Science Alliance has developed a sustainable method to produce Metal Organic Framework (MOF) from waste PET bottles. The company used terephthalic acid from recycled PET and a solid-state synthesis procedure to reduce production costs. This sustainable MOF will be used in rechargeable batteries, fuel cells, and CO2 capture.

US-based researchers at MIT have been awarded the National Medal of Science and the National Medal of Technology and Innovation for their work in various fields, including developing novel materials for solar cells and batteries, researching anesthesia's effects on the brain, creating thin films for drug delivery, and developing CRISPR genome-editing technology. Their innovations have significant implications for energy, medicine, and healthcare.

US-based researchers have conducted a techno-economic analysis of natural and stimulated geological hydrogen production, estimating costs at $0.54/kg and $0.92/kg respectively under optimal conditions. The study highlights hydrogen purity and production flow rates as primary cost drivers. Companies like Hydroma and Gold Hydrogen are exploring natural geological hydrogen.

Switzerland-based Climeworks has shared its 2024 milestones including the inauguration of Mammoth (world's largest Direct Air Capture plant), Project Cypress development in Louisiana, launch of Climeworks Solutions portfolio offering, certification under Puro Standard, and unveiling of Generation 3 technology. The company's Project Cypress, awarded USD 50 million by U.S. DOE, aims to capture 1 million tons of CO₂ annually when complete. The new Generation 3 technology promises to reduce carbon removal costs by up to 50% compared to current costs.

India's Department of Biotechnology (DBT) conducted a webinar on \"Biomanufacturing of Enzymes,\" a key area under the BioE3 Policy aimed at making India a global leader in bio-based innovations. The webinar involved discussions on advancements and opportunities in enzyme biomanufacturing, a sustainable process replacing chemical catalysts with eco-friendly alternatives. Experts discussed strategies to boost indigenous enzyme discovery, scale up production, and leverage technologies like synthetic biology and AI/ML for high-titer enzyme production.

US-based Bezos Earth Fund, in partnership with Experiment Foundation, announced the winners and finalists of its $1M Greenhouse Gas Removal Ideation Prize. The prize, structured in two phases, awarded funding to projects focusing on diverse greenhouse gas removal technologies, aiming to significantly contribute towards removing gigatonnes of greenhouse gases annually by 2050.

Researchers have synthesized and characterized a new iron(III)-hydroperoxo complex that shows promise for developing novel catalysts. The complex demonstrates both electrophilic and nucleophilic reactivity without cleaving the O-O bond, offering potential applications in sustainable catalysis and biomimetic systems.

Researchers have developed a novel Z-scheme 2D/3D heterojunction photocatalyst (g-C3N4/Bi2WO6 OVs) that achieves over 90% degradation rate of tetracycline in water treatment applications. The new material demonstrates enhanced photocatalytic activity and presents an effective method for solar fuel conversion and water treatment.

Researchers have developed enhanced Fe-based catalysts through transition metal doping (Mn, Co, Cu, Zn) for photothermal CO2 hydrogenation. The study demonstrated improved catalyst performance, with CoFe achieving C2+ yield of 1.73 mmol·h-1·g-1 and ZnFe doubling CO2 conversion under irradiation conditions. The research provides new insights into using transition metal promoters for CO2 conversion applications.

Researchers have developed a new carbon anode material for sodium-ion batteries using low-cost anthracite and boron quantum dots. The novel material demonstrates high discharge capacity, reversible capacity, and superior long-term cycling stability over 1000 cycles, representing a significant advancement in energy storage technology.

A scientific review has examined the synthesis process of single-atom catalysis (SACs), focusing on substance migration's role in metal loading and electronic structure manipulation. The research provides insights into thermodynamics and kinetic processes, outlining the migration behavior of metal and nonmetal species to guide future catalyst design.

Estonia-based UP Catalyst has achieved the lowest carbon footprint for carbon nanotubes (CNTs) and one of the lowest for battery-grade graphite. Their cradle-to-gate LCA, conducted by Research Institutes of Sweden (RISE) and reviewed by Bureau Veritas, shows a potential to reach 0.7 kg of CO₂-eq/kg for CNTs and 0.07 kg of CO₂-eq/kg for graphite in large-scale production using green electricity. UP Catalyst uses CO2 emissions as feedstock and plans to construct a large industrial facility by the end of 2030.

Researchers have developed a new all-vanadium-based lithium-ion battery using hierarchical micro-nano yolk-shell structure V2O5 and V2O3 as cathode and anode. The new battery design demonstrates higher capacities than conventional cathodes and shows good cycle performance with stable charge/discharge abilities at large current densities.

Iraq's Besmaya Natural Gas Combined Cycle power plant has demonstrated successful implementation of a solar-assisted carbon capture and utilization system. The plant has achieved a 99% reduction in CO2 emissions through converting captured CO2 to methanol using hydrogen produced from solar-water splitting, reducing annual emissions from 2.1 million tons to just 16,069 tonnes.

South Korean researchers from Dongguk University and Inha University have developed a novel hierarchical heterostructure (Pt@SnS2/MXene) for detecting volatile organic compounds at room temperature. The new sensor technology demonstrates high sensitivity, selectivity and humidity tolerance for NH3 detection, with potential applications in environmental monitoring and wearable electronics.

Researchers have developed and investigated a new catalyst system using Fe@g-BC3N4 for electrochemical nitrogen reduction to produce ammonia under ambient conditions. The study found that the new catalyst shows improved stability, better nitrogen molecule adsorption, and lower limiting potential compared to Fe@g-C3N4, making it a promising advancement for sustainable ammonia production.

Researchers have developed a novel core-shell structural catalyst (FeNC@C) for efficient antibiotic degradation that requires no additional energy input. The catalyst achieved 90% degradation efficiency and over 47% total organic carbon removal within 60 minutes, demonstrating significant potential for energy-efficient water treatment and antibiotic decomposition.

Researchers have developed a novel aluminum compound catalyst that enables anti-Markovnikov hydroamination of aromatic alkenes and primary amines. This breakthrough represents the first metal aluminum-catalyzed intermolecular hydroamination of alkenes, advancing sustainable catalysis technology.

Researchers have developed a novel ternary heterojunction photocatalyst Cu2Cl(OH)3/In/In2O3 (Cu H IO) that significantly enhances the photocatalytic conversion of CO2 and H2O into useful chemicals and fuels. The new catalyst demonstrates superior performance with CO and CH4 yield rates 8.38-fold and 18-fold higher than pristine In2O3, respectively, without requiring sacrificial agents or cocatalysts.

Researchers have developed a new catalyst using Palladium nanoparticles loaded on CoNi-hydroxides nanosheets for efficient CO2 methanation. The catalyst achieved a methane production rate of 2255 μmol per gram catalyst per hour at 573K, doubling the performance of pristine CoNi-hydroxides catalyst. The innovation represents advancement in CO2 conversion technology for carbon cycling.