A collaboration among experts at the Molecular Foundry, the Joint BioEnergy Institute (JBEI), and the Advanced Light Source has shown that the starting ingredients in an infinitely recyclable plastic known as poly(diketoenamine), or PDK, can be successfully made by microbes. The new approach shows that renewable, recyclable plastics are not only possible, but also outperform those from petrochemicals.
How Technoeconomic Analyses Pave the Way to a Low-Carbon Future
Scientists in the Biosciences Area at Berkeley Lab are answering key questions about emerging technologies with technoeconomic analysis, a data-driven way to predict the best routes to decarbonization. Technoeconomic analysis uses computer models to evaluate the cost implications and potential environmental impacts of emerging technologies. This type of predictive analysis can be used to support decision-making by researchers, industry stakeholders, regulators, and policy-makers.
Biosciences Area FY23 LDRD Projects
The projects of 22 Biosciences Area scientists and engineers received funding through the FY23 Laboratory Directed Research and Development (LDRD) program.
Bacteria for Blastoff: Using Microbes to Make Supercharged New Rocket Fuel
A group of biofuel experts led by Berkeley Lab took inspiration from an extraordinary antifungal molecule made by Streptomyces bacteria to develop a totally new type of fuel that has projected energy density greater than the most advanced heavy-duty fuels used today, including the rocket fuels used by NASA.
Scown to Receive ACS Lectureship Award
Corinne Scown, the Joint BioEnergy Institute’s (JBEI) Vice President for Life-Cycle, Economics and Agronomy and Director of Life-Cycle and Technoeconomic Analysis, has won the 2022 ACS Sustainable Chemistry & Engineering Lectureship Award for the Americas. She was honored for “her contributions integrating emerging technology development with rigorous technoeconomic analysis and life-cycle assessment.”
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