Renewable feedstocks
The latest chemistry news and research on renewable feedstocks, including bio-based chemicals, biofuels, recycling and the circular economy, from the Royal Society of Chemistry's magazine, Chemistry World
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Research
Zinc–air batteries created from paper industry waste
Lignin- and cellulose-based zinc-air batteries overcome longstanding electrocatalyst performance and electrolyte stability challenges
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Research
Recycled construction waste could cut cement and steel’s carbon footprint
Cement can be regenerated during steel recycling in an electric arc furnace
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Research
Cold plasma converts biogas into long-chain hydrocarbon feedstocks
Waste gases from landfills could be turned into valuable chemical feedstocks
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Opinion
To reach net zero, we need to close the loop on combustion
A systems thinking approach to decarbonising our economies presents chemistry with a key challenge
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News
Pioneering ammonia-powered ship shows off a greener future for shipping at Cop28
Greener shipping on the horizon but regulations mean no port will take ships powered by ammonia yet
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News
Lego struggles to find the right chemistry to replace oil-based virgin plastics
Danish toymaker commits to redouble efforts to produce more sustainable polymers for Lego pieces
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Business
Bio-based plastics compete for space
From drop-in replacements to new polymers, what role will renewable materials play in a sustainable future?
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Research
Recycling wind turbine blades by breaking them down into their constituent chemicals
Thermoset plastics that normally end up in landfill can be selectively depolymerised using a ruthenium catalyst
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Research
Redesigned biopolymer solves thermal stability challenge
Chemical redesign makes PHAs easier to process and recycle
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Research
Rapid alternating polarity brings new life to 189-year-old electrochemical reaction
A more sustainable approach to the Kolbe reaction could reduce chemists’ reliance on oil-derived materials
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Feature
The complex chemistry of making paper
Renewable, recyclable and biodegradable, paper is the ultimate sustainable material. Victoria Atkinson looks at the clever chemistry that turns trees into sheets
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Business
Transforming sawdust with ultrasound
Bio-Sep can break down biomass and extract valuable molecules without damaging them
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Research
Waste plastics unzipped into useful pieces
Chemical recycling of polyethylene produces feedstock usually obtained from crude oil.
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Research
Light-driven molecular motor made from entirely renewable resources
Green synthetic strategy leads to first light-driven molecular motor from wood biomass
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Opinion
Reverse combustion is preparing for takeoff
Where burning hydrocarbons is unavoidable, creating them from atmospheric carbon is a promising option
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Research
Struvite recovered from wastewater could be used to suppress wildfires
Experiments show struvite-suspended hydrogel is as good at fighting fire as a commercial ammonium polyphosphate-based formulation
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Opinion
Chemical upcycling
Economics is central to invigorating the transition to a circular economy for plastic
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Business
Searching for more sustainable resin materials
Paul Jones of Bitrez is the 2021 Chemistry World Entrepreneur of the Year
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Research
High performance fabric that can be made from plastic bags could slash fashion’s huge emissions
Polyethylene yarn can create clothes that are stain resistant, cool the wearer and are simple to recycle