Energy News
BIO FUEL
Kimchi Institute process upcycles cabbage byproducts into bioplastics
illustration only
Kimchi Institute process upcycles cabbage byproducts into bioplastics
by Riko Seibo
Tokyo, Japan (SPX) May 11, 2024

As kimchi gains popularity worldwide, cabbage, a key ingredient, sees high wastage rates during its production and distribution, with over 30% discarded annually. This contributes significantly to environmental pollution and incurs substantial disposal costs.

Addressing this issue, Hae Choon Chang, President of the World Institute of Kimchi, a research entity funded by the Ministry of Science and ICT, revealed on April 22 that they have developed a technology capable of transforming cabbage byproducts into biodegradable plastics using 'bio-refactoring-based upcycling.' This process allows the conversion of waste materials into valuable bioplastics that naturally degrade under specific conditions.

Dr. Jung Eun Yang and her team at the institute utilized bio-refactoring to engineer microbial strains that convert sugars extracted from cabbage waste into bioplastics, achieving a conversion efficiency of 90.4%. They discovered that malic acid, extracted from cabbage byproducts, significantly enhances the production of Polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA), a biodegradable and bio-based material.

This innovative approach not only applies to cabbage but also to other agricultural residues from kimchi production like onion waste, potentially saving the industry an estimated 10 billion won annually in disposal costs.

Dr. Hae Woong Park, director of the Technology Innovation Research Division, emphasized the environmental benefits, stating, "We have secured a technology that converts agricultural and food waste into high-value materials, contributing towards carbon neutrality in the kimchi industry."

Further insights from their research, which was featured on the front cover of the 'Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry' in March 2024, include detailed analyses of cabbage byproducts and their components that promote microbial growth. These findings pave the way for more advanced waste-to-material technologies in the future.

Research Report:"Valorization of Cabbage Waste as a Feedstock for Microbial Polyhydroxyalkanoate Production: Optimizing Hydrolysis Conditions and Polyhydroxyalkanoate Production"

Related Links
World Institute of Kimchi
Bio Fuel Technology and Application News

Subscribe Free To Our Daily Newsletters
Tweet

RELATED CONTENT
The following news reports may link to other Space Media Network websites.
BIO FUEL
Major advancement in sustainable syngas production using solar power
Sydney, Australia (SPX) May 08, 2024
Researchers at Shanghai Jiao Tong University have developed a novel photocatalyst, Rh/InGaN1-xOx, that uses solar energy to efficiently convert greenhouse gases into syngas. This nanoarchitecture combines rhodium nanoparticles with oxygen-modified indium gallium nitride nanowires, showing a syngas evolution rate of 180.9 mmol gcat-1 h-1 and a selectivity of 96.3%. This method offers a major enhancement over traditional catalytic processes which are energy-intensive and prone to quick deactivation. ... read more

BIO FUEL
Lithuanian researchers advance solar cell technology

Energy Savings Assistance Program Working Group Meeting Scheduled

Ascent Solar Secures Order for Thin-Film PV from Satellite Manufacturer

Solar power heats materials over 1,000 degrees Celsius

BIO FUEL
Harnessing hydrogen for heavy-duty transportation

Qatar eyes more long-term gas supply deals this year

US, Japanese banks lead fossil fuel financing

Chinese firms win most bids to explore Iraq oil and gas

BIO FUEL
Gov. Ron DeSantis signs law erasing climate change from Florida policy

Summer 2023 was the hottest in 2,000 years: study

Parks and restoration: Climate change forces US policy shift

Loss and hope: US park rangers' climate crisis fight

BIO FUEL
Using AI to improve, speed up plasma physics in fusion

Eco-friendly battery developed for low-income countries

Push for new US lithium mine leaves some Americans wary

Quantum advances enhance understanding of high-temperature superconductors

BIO FUEL
Kimchi Institute process upcycles cabbage byproducts into bioplastics

Studying bubbles can lead to more efficient biofuel motors

Chicken fat transformed into supercapacitor components

New Insights into the Slow Process of Breaking Down Plant Material for Biofuels

BIO FUEL
Trade barriers on Chinese EVs a 'big trap', says Stellantis CEO

Tesla's German factory gets approval for extension

Early retirement of old vehicles will not significantly reduce emissions, study finds

Renault to pursue autonomous minibuses but not cars

BIO FUEL
'Sowing peace'? Colombia program for war criminals stokes debate

Cambodia's famed Kampot pepper withers in scorching heatwave

Polish farmers protest 'harmful' EU environmental rules

Brazil floods strike blow to powerful agriculture sector

BIO FUEL
Energy transition risks critical mineral shortage: IEA

Microbial Enzyme Could Make Plastics Biodegradable

SwRI investigates boiling processes in partial gravity

AI Training Strategies Tested on World's Fastest Supercomputer

Subscribe Free To Our Daily Newsletters




The content herein, unless otherwise known to be public domain, are Copyright 1995-2024 - Space Media Network. All websites are published in Australia and are solely subject to Australian law and governed by Fair Use principals for news reporting and research purposes. AFP, UPI and IANS news wire stories are copyright Agence France-Presse, United Press International and Indo-Asia News Service. ESA news reports are copyright European Space Agency. All NASA sourced material is public domain. Additional copyrights may apply in whole or part to other bona fide parties. All articles labeled "by Staff Writers" include reports supplied to Space Media Network by industry news wires, PR agencies, corporate press officers and the like. Such articles are individually curated and edited by Space Media Network staff on the basis of the report's information value to our industry and professional readership. Advertising does not imply endorsement, agreement or approval of any opinions, statements or information provided by Space Media Network on any Web page published or hosted by Space Media Network. General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) Statement Our advertisers use various cookies and the like to deliver the best ad banner available at one time. All network advertising suppliers have GDPR policies (Legitimate Interest) that conform with EU regulations for data collection. By using our websites you consent to cookie based advertising. If you do not agree with this then you must stop using the websites from May 25, 2018. Privacy Statement. Additional information can be found here at About Us.