Biofuel production from photoautotrophic biomass is a promising energy solution; also attractive is the carbon-neutral nature of resulting biofuels made with CO2 fixation. Strains of the cyanobacterium Synechocystis sp. are promising candidates, with high biomass yield and robustness over a wide range of temperatures, salinity, and pH. For highest...

Cyanobacteria are a promising source of biofuels. They have higher growth rates and greater solar energy capture efficiency than multi-cellular plants. Traditional downstream recovery of the cell membrane lipids from cyanobacteria, however, typically requires cell lysis followed by solvent extraction. This can account for 70-80% of the cost of biofuel...

Photosynthetic bacteria potentially provide a source of lipids that is relatively easy to harvest and convert into biofuels. To increase the efficiency of this system it would be beneficial to use a bacterial strain that produces lipids that are readily converted to biofuels, such as neutral lipids. Hence, there is a need for a photosynthesizing...

The availability of aviation fuel is subject to potentially unstable oil markets. Oil rich crops and algae are promising biological systems for cost-effective and sustainable production of biodiesel, but biodiesel produced from currently available oil crop-based feedstock is not suitable for aviation fuel because of its lower energy density and...

This invention contains the following distinct novelties: 1. The ability to perform flip-chip based electronic packaging for a die that contains mechanical and electrically active MEMS (Micro Electromechanical System) structures. Currently, most MEMS packaging technology still use a old-fashioned (Gold or Aluminum) wire-bonding technology which...

Cheap renewable energy is a major goal of many countries. Although wind, solar, and hydro power are supplements to the power grid, they cannot be efficiently converted into the liquid biofuels needed for cars, ships, and planes. In contrast, photosynthetic microbes are not only the most efficient organisms for solar energy conversion, but they have...

Halogenated organic compounds (organohalides) have often been released into the soil and groundwater. These compounds may be carcinogenic and are hazardous to the natural environment. A significant need exists therefore for techniques to efficiently decontaminate these types of toxic compounds. Researchers at the Biodesign Institute of Arizona...

Algal biofuels are a promising area of research in the field of alternative energy. A major drawback of the currently available methods of algae cultivation is the lack of an economical and efficient method to harvest the biomass; recovery of the algae biomass from the culture medium may contribute 20-30% of the total cost of culture. Recovery...

Polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells (PEM-FCs) are becoming an increasingly important technology in both stationary and mobile applications. Problems impeding the development of fuel cell technology mainly involve electrocatalysts and electrolyte membranes. Commercially available membranes limit the operating temperature range to an approximate...

The United States’ demand for battery and fuel cell materials is projected to grow 5.9 percent annually through 2009 rising to $3.4 billion in sales. Healthy gains in U.S. battery production, due to the growing popularity of high-drain electronic products such as digital cameras and wireless phones, will result in the increased use of high-value...