Biomaterials & Biofuels
New Thinking
Award winning designs expand bioplastics' potential
Students at Unitec’s School of Design recently took up a challenge, outlined by Crown Research Institute Scion and the Designers Institute of New Zealand, of creating stylish, functional products using bioplastics derived from sustainable resources.
Spider web inspires new nano fibre venture
A Canterbury student whose research into producing nano fibres is supported by Crop & Food Research and the Foundation for Research, Science and Technology, has gone on to be involved in the development of an electrospinning machine that is being sold to research laboratories around the world.
NZ can grow all its own biofuels
Scion research shows New Zealand has enough land available for purpose-grown forests, to fuel vehicles within 40 years.
Biofuels fuel debate about benefits
A Crop and Food research scientist has joined the debate on the economic benefits of biofuels, which are not as evident as might first appear.
New Science
Novel bioactive coatings show promise as anti-foulants
Researchers at NIWA are trialling anti-foulants developed from natural extracts in a bid to find an alternative to metal-based biocides.
Non-plastic fantastic
Our world is hugely dependant on petroleum-based plastics and other non-renewable materials. But renewable “biofibres” such as wood, flax or hemp could take over – and sooner than many think. Scion, a Crown Research Institute, wants to realise products that are made with less energy, do the job at least as well, and ultimately don’t grow the landfill.
New Value
Win-win as odour control enables biogas capture
A NIWA-designed pond cover for a piggery not only stops the pong but also captures methane.
NZ CRIs join forces with leading US enzyme discovery company
New Zealand CRIs Scion and AgResearch are in a research programme with US-based Diversa Corporation which could ultimately see New Zealand’s vehicle fleet running on New Zealand-grown and manufactured biofuels.
