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Oleophobic hydrophobic magnetic sponge selectively soaks up oil, sparing water and wildlife

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A Northwestern Engineering-led team has developed a highly porous smart sponge that selectively soaks up oil in water. With an ability to absorb more than 30 times its weight in oil, the sponge could be used to clean up oil spills inexpensively and efficiently without harming marine life.

Water 243
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Pitt engineers using membrane distillation to recycle water used in fracking and drilling

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Engineers at the University of Pittsburgh Swanson School of Engineering are using membrane distillation technology to enable drillers to filter and reuse the produced water in the oil and gas industry, in agriculture, and other beneficial uses. The team is back in the lab to find a fix. Shamlou, Elmira & Vidic, Radisav & Khanna, Vikas.

Water 303
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New Emissions Analytics study suggests pollution from tire wear now 1,850 times worse than exhaust emissions

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In early 2020, UK-based independent testing firm Emissions Analytics published a study claiming that tire particulate wear emissions were 1,000 times worse than exhaust emissions ( earlier post ). —Emissions Analytics. Quoting such ratios, however, needs careful interpretation.

Exhaust 539
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Researchers develop large-scale, economical method to extract hydrogen from oil sands and oil fields

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Canadian researchers have developed a large-scale economical method to extract hydrogen from oil sands (natural bitumen) and oil fields. The process can extract hydrogen from existing oil sands reservoirs, with huge existing supplies found in Canada and Venezuela. Proton Technologies is commercializing the process.

Oil-Sands 375
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Neste-led project verified 50% methane emission reduction at palm oil mills using belt filter press

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Crude palm oil is one of the more than ten renewable raw materials that Neste uses to produce a range of renewable products, including renewable diesel. Palm oil represents approximately 20% of Neste’s renewable raw material usage annually. A belt filter dewaters by applying pressure to solids to squeeze out the water.

Oil 244
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DOE awards $27.5M to 16 water infrastructure projects

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million to 16 water infrastructure projects. Modern technology has the potential to reduce energy use in aging water infrastructure, particularly in wastewater treatment, which demands up to 2% of domestic electricity use each year. The US Department of Energy (DOE) is awarding $27.5

Water 186
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bp investing $269M to improve efficiency, reduce emissions and grow renewable diesel production at Cherry Point Refinery

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bp plans to invest $269 million investment in three projects at its Cherry Point Refinery in Washington state, aimed at improving the refinery’s efficiency, reducing its carbon dioxide emissions and increasing its renewable diesel production capability. Cooling Water Infrastructure Project. Cooling water is vital to safe operations.

Renewable 221