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UW Madison chemists discover new way to harness energy from ammonia

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A research team at the University of Wisconsin–Madison has identified a new way to convert ammonia to nitrogen gas through a process that could be a step toward ammonia replacing carbon-based fuels. —Michael Trenerry, lead author. This work was supported by the US Department of Energy (DOE). Trenerry, M.J., Wallen, C.M., Brown, T.R.

Energy 418
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University of Wisconsin seeking commercial partners for alkylphenol solvent-based method to convert biomass into furan derivatives for fuels and chemicals

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The Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation (WARF) is seeking commercial partners for a novel, cost-effective method developed by University of Wisconsin, Madison researchers for producing furan derivatives such as hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF), furfural, levulinic acid (LA) or γ-valerolactone (GVL) from biomass using alkylphenols as solvents.

Wisconsin 225
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Wisconsin Researchers Devise Process to Convert Biomass Intermediate Product into Drop-in Transportation Fuels Without Use of External Hydrogen or Precious Metal Catalysts

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Researchers at the University of Wisconsin, led by Dr. James Dumesic, have developed a process to convert aqueous solutions of ?-valerolactone Additionally, the yield of high molecular weight alkenes from GVL would benefit from the development of water-tolerant oligomerization catalysts. Credit: Bond et al., Click to enlarge.

Wisconsin 210
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Univ. of Wisconsin team reports on new process for converting hemicellulose to furfural and levulinic acid as renewable fuel precursors and chemicals

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Schematic representation of the conversion of hemicellulose to furfural (FuAL) through the biphasic dehydration of xylose to furfural, followed by the production of levulinic acid (LA) by reduction of furfural to furfuryl alcohol (FuOH) and further reaction of furfuryl alcohol with water in a biphasic reactor. Source: Gürbüz et al.

Wisconsin 186
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Researchers Develop New Lower-Cost, Efficient Catalyst for Water Gas Shift Reaction for Hydrogen Production

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A team of researchers from Tufts University, the University of Wisconsin-Madison and Harvard University report that alkali ions (sodium or potassium) added in small amounts activate platinum adsorbed on alumina or silica for the low-temperature water-gas shift (WGS) reaction (H 2 O+CO→ H 2 +CO 2 ) used for producing hydrogen.

Water 170
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University of Wisconsin Team Develops High-Yielding Chemical Hydrolysis Process to Release Sugars from Biomass for Cellulosic Fuels and Chemicals

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A University of Wisconsin-Madison research team has developed a chemical process for the hydrolysis of biomass into sugars for subsequent processing into fuels and chemicals that delivers sugar yields approaching those of enzymatic hydrolysis. Binder and Ronald T. Raines (2010) Fermentable sugars by chemical hydrolysis of biomass. 0912073107.

Wisconsin 170
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Researchers Show New Piezeoelectrochemical Effect Can Scavenge Energy Wastes Such as Noise or Vibration to Generate Hydrogen Via Water Splitting

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H 2 and O 2 are produced by deforming a ZnO fiber or BaTiO 3 dendrite in water via oxidation-reduction reactions. Materials scientists at the University of Wisconsin-Madison have discovered a phenomenon—the direct conversion of mechanical energy to chemical energy—which they termed the piezoelectrochemical (PZEC) effect.

Water 199