Magazine and paper publications
Congratulations to Dr Francis Hassard, the Water Biofilms WG Lead, and his colleagues on two recent papers describing novel advances in slow sand filtration (SSF). The technology also features in the WG’s animation Innovation in SSF: A sustainable solution for clean water. A subtitled version is available here. For an …
Dr Francis Hassard, the Lead of EBNet’s Water Biofilms Working Group, is keen to hear the sector’s views on how slow sand filters (SSF) can keep pace with tomorrow’s drinking-water challenges. On 22 January 2025, EBNet brought together researchers, utilities and regulators at the Royal Society of Chemistry, London to …
Microbiologically-Influenced Corrosion or MIC is of interest to at least two of EBNet’s Working Groups – the Bioelectrochemical Systems and Anaerobic Fermentation WGs, which supported a forthcoming materials study. The full report is embargoed for now, but an outline is available here. Meanwhile a recently-published review by one of the …
Some interesting new publications this month in the field of Anaerobic Fermentation and biorefineries. Recent developments and future perspectives of marine macroalgae biorefinery in a circular bioeconomy approach. Lawrence, J., Oliva, A., Murphy, J.D. and Lens, P.N., 2025. Research Handbook of Innovation in the Circular Bioeconomy, pp.260-271. Critical factors influencing biohythane …
IEA Bioenergy’s Task 36: Material and Energy valorisation of waste in a Circular Economy has published a report on Social and Environmental Sustainability of Municipal Solid Waste in the Context of the UN SDGs. The work builds on input from participants in a series of regional workshops held in South Africa, …
A 2-day workshop led by Prof John Bridgeman of the University of Liverpool brought together specialists in fluid mechanics with microbiologists and water industry end users to discuss best practice and new opportunities in hydrodynamic modelling of anaerobic digestion of wastewater biosolids. These complex multi-phase non-Newtonian fluids present a range …
The International Fugitive Emissions Abatement Association IFEAA has carried out a review of factors enabling on-farm anaerobic digestion and methane capture. The IFEAA team, including EBNet’s Network Co-Manager Angela Bywater, worked with system developers to understand policy, regulatory, skills and technology aspects, as part of the Cornwall-based Net Zero Methane …
The BBC’s Rare Earth programme has a new episode out on PFAS, the per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances that are now a major emerging pollutant: listen or download on Rare Earth – Forever Chemicals – BBC Sounds. Dr Tao Lyu from Cranfield University, who leads EBNet’s PFAS Working Group, says: “New …
IEA Task 37 Energy from Biogas has published a report on Potential for Manure-based Anaerobic Digestion – Motivations, Barriers and Approaches in Six Countries. The new report builds on a previous Task 37 study Potential and utilization of manure to generate biogas in seven countries, updating this and adding data …
The BBSRC Industrial Biotechnology Evaluation has been published today on the UKRI website. The news item can be found here: Report reveals impact of industrial biotechnology investments – UKRI The full evaluation report can be found here: Evaluating BBSRC investments in industrial biotechnology research – UKRI
At the recent joint EBNet/Carbon Recycling Network Gas Fermentation Workshop in Cheshire this March, we gathered top experts from across the world to discuss priorities for gas fermentation research. The overall goal was to develop our understanding of gas fermentation systems to allow optimisation of operational strategies and conversion efficiencies. Key areas …
Submission deadline: Friday, 31 January 2025. Extended to 30 June 2025.The guest editors are Dr Tao Lyu, Cranfield University and Dr Anjali Jayakumar, Newcastle University – heads of our PFAs and ECR Working Groups respectively. This special issue is open for participants of the EBNet ECR24 conference AND also the whole EBNet community. Take …
The long-awaited UK Government’s Biomass Strategy has been published. It sets out steps government intends to take to strengthen biomass sustainability and the opportunities for the use of sustainable biomass across multiple sectors of the economy in support of achieving the UK’s net zero target. It builds on the 2021 Biomass …
Reflections on the move to a double-blind Proof of Concept Call. Recent criticisms within academia and a strong focus on EDI initiatives have highlighted anxieties about inequalities in the workplace. Our diverse research community needs to be assured that we take inclusion seriously and aim to safeguard the quality of …
The Environmental Biotechnology Network (EBNet), based at the University of Southampton, is pleased to announce that the abstract for one of their co-sponsored ‘Farm of the Future’ reports on ‘Decarbonising Farm Vehicles and Future Fuels’ has won first place in the Best Scientific Abstracts from the Union of European Academies …
