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DOE to award up to $12M for technologies to produce renewable carbon fiber from biomass

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The US Department of Energy (DOE) will award ( DE-FOA-0000996 ) up to $12 million in funding to advance the development of a cost-competitive pathway to produce high-performance carbon fiber for vehicle lightweighting from renewable non-food biomass. Reducing a vehicle’s weight by just 10% can improve fuel economy by 6% to 8%.

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UCalgary, Rice team uses flash joule heating to manufacture graphene from petroleum waste

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A team from the University of Calgary and Rice University has used flash joule heating (FJH) ( earlier post ) to convert low-value asphaltenes—a by-product of crude oil refining—into a high-value carbon allotrope, asphaltene-derived flash graphene (AFG). Flash graphene from asphaltenes. (A)

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DOE issues $10M incubator FOA for batteries, power electronics, engines, materials, fuels and lubricants

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Carbon Fiber or Lightweight Materials. VTO is seeking projects that address the major challenges to developing and commercializing carbon fiber composites for lightweight structures. Most critical is the cost of the carbon fiber. The cost to manufacture the carbon fiber is high. and/or heavy?

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DOE awarding $19.4M to 22 advanced vehicle technologies projects; Mercedes-Benz, GM Li-S battery projects

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Two projects will research, develop, and use integrated computation materials engineering (ICME) techniques to develop low cost carbon fiber from a variety of feedstocks and precursors that can be used to make carbon fiber with less energy and lower cost. ICME Low Cost Carbon Fiber (Area of Interest 2).

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Lamborghini unveils Lanzador electric concept

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The water comes from olive oil production and has to be treated in waste water treatment plants due to its high acidity and antimicrobial and phytotoxic effect. Every year, sheep grow a new fleece, making wool a completely renewable fiber, unlike synthetic fabrics, which are industrially produced from non-renewable fossil energy.

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DOE awards $25M to improve natural gas operations

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Modular System for Direct Conversion of Methane into Methanol via Photocatalysis. Stanford University aims to develop a process-intensified catalyst for photochemical conversion of methane to methanol. The multifunctional catalytic process will address venting and flaring associated with oil and natural gas operations.

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US DOE awards more than $175M to 40 projects for advanced vehicle research and development

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This project will research, develop, and demonstrate polyalkylene glycol (PAG)- based engine oil technology which can reduce engine friction relative to conventional petroleum-based and synthetic oils. Increased availability of low cost carbon fiber can enable vehicle weight reduction and improvement in fuel economy.