polymerguru

  The Automobile Club de l’Ouest (ACO) announced a brand new partnership between Red Bull Advanced Technologies (RBAT) and ORECA to collaborate on the chassis concept that will underpin all the prototypes in the future hydrogen class at the 2024 24 Hours of Le Mans. Both firms have a keen interest in the ACO’s hydrogen program which includes the creation of a distinct hydrogen class in 2024, and so teamed up for the first time in their history in a joint bid. ORECA will draw on its expertise of its Design Office and its production skills as well as its endurance racing knowledge and experience, while RBAT will bring its expertise in racing car design, very much focused on aerodynamics, vehicle dynamics, simulation and energy recovery optimization. The initial task for the partners will be to undertake and provide a detailed feasibility study for the vehicle concept. RBAT and ORECA thus join Plastic Omnium, the exclusive supplier of the hydrogen prototype fuel tanks ultimately for t...

  The entry of the Grupo Industrial Calvera into the HYSLAND project, promoted by a consortium made up of 30 partners from 11 countries, will reinforce what is undoubtedly one of the largest green hydrogen initiatives in Spain and Europe. With a global budget of more than 50 million euros and a European Commission’s contribution of 10 million euros through the Fuel Cells and Hydrogen Joint Undertaking (FCH JU), HYSLAND aims to create a true green hydrogen ecosystem in the Balearic Islands during the next five years, involving numerous economic sectors to become the reference project in this field in southern Europe. HYSLAND, which is coordinated by Enagás and also includes other prominent players such as Acciona, comprises a broad set of actions and infrastructures that will revolve around the production, distribution and use of more than 300 tons of renewable hydrogen per year, generated from photovoltaic solar technology. This will be used for the supply of bus fleets, rental veh...

  In a new study, Texas A&M University researchers have uncovered an efficient way to use leftover sludge to make biodegradable plastics. The researchers report that the bacterium Zobellella denitrificans ZD1, found in mangroves, can consume sludge and wastewater to produce polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB), a type of biopolymer that can be used in lieu of petroleum-based plastics. New Way to Cut Down Upstream Costs for Bioplastics In addition to reducing the burden on landfills and the environment, the researchers said Zobellella denitrificans ZD1 offers a way to cut down upstream costs for bioplastics manufacturing, a step toward making them more competitively priced against regular plastics. “ The price of raw materials to cultivate biopolymer-producing bacteria accounts for 25-45% of the total production cost of manufacturing bioplastics. Certainly, this cost can be greatly reduced if we can tap into an alternate resource that is cheaper and readily obtainable ,” said Kung-Hui (Bel...