Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation

Technology

Enhanced Biomass Digestion with Wood Wasp Bacteria

Plant biomass represents a vast and renewable source of energy. However, harnessing this energy requires breaking down tough lignin and cellulose cell walls. In nature, certain microbes can deconstruc...
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Cameron Currie, Brian Fox, Taichi Takasuka, Adam Book | P110314US03

Technology

Transgenic Lignin Easier to Break Down for Biofuel

Lignocellulosic biomass is a very desirable feedstock for biofuel production. If the fermentation process could be optimized, conversion of this biomass could yield 25 to 50 billion gallons of ethanol...
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John Ralph, Curtis Wilkerson, Saunia Withers, Shawn Mansfield | P100281US02

Technology

Lignin from Transgenic Poplar Is Easier to Process

Lignin is an important plant cell wall component that provides structural support and vascular functions. It is one of the most abundant organic polymers on Earth, constituting about 30 percent of non...
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John Ralph, Curtis Wilkerson, Saunia Withers, Shawn Mansfield | P100281US03

Technology

Unleashing Biomass Sugars Using Bromine Salt

Methods to produce bioethanol from cornstarch or sugarcane are inadequate to meet the global demand for renewable fuels. To be sustainable, biofuel production should rely on abundant, cheap, inedible ...
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Xuejun Pan, Li Shuai | P110209US02

Technology

Rechargeable Desalination Battery

Access to fresh water is a pressing geopolitical issue and technological challenge. Desalination is a potentially viable solution considering the abundance of seawater on Earth. While reverse osmosis ...
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Kyoung-Shin Choi, Dohwan Nam | P170083US01

Technology

Zip-Lignin™ Assay: An Analysis and Validation Tool

To produce pulp from wood, harsh chemicals are applied during cooking and bleaching mainly because lignin is tough to break down. To make it easier to degrade, Wisconsin researchers discovered how che...
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John Ralph, Steven Karlen, Fachuang Lu, Dharshana Padmakshan | P150118US02

Technology

Interface Switch for Distributed Energy Resources

Distributed energy resources (DER) are small power generators that are typically located near the customer’s load, where energy is used. Small DER produce low emissions, can be manufactured at l...
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Robert Lasseter, Paolo Piagi | P05322US

Technology

Platinum-Free Catalysts for Fuel Cells

Fuel cells and other types of electrochemical cells rely on platinum cathodes to drive oxygen reduction. Although efficient, platinum cathodes are expensive given the element’s relative scarcity. On...
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Shannon Stahl, James Gerken, Colin Anson | P140274US02

Technology

Detecting Seismic S Waves with Unprecedented Accuracy

Seismic events produce two types of seismic waves, referred to as P waves and S waves. P waves are relatively easy to detect (or “pick”) with software. S waves travel more slowly and arrive in the...
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Clifford Thurber, Christopher Rawles | P140387US01

Technology

Ultrafast Synthesis of Activated Carbon

Activated (porous) carbon is conventionally produced by pyrolysis (carbonization) of carbon-rich biomass or coal followed by activation/oxidation. Activated carbon produced by this conventional method...
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Annamalai Karthikeyan | T130012US02

Technology

Zinc Oxide Nanowires for Photovoltaics and More

Zinc oxide (ZnO) nanowires are of tremendous commercial interest because they could help drive the next big advancements in solar cells, flat panel displays and other transparent conductor application...
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Xudong Wang, Fei Wang, Alexander Kvit | P130385US01

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