Towards a 'green' soft drinks bottle
University of Groningen researchers have discovered a new biochemical process that can convert a sugar derivative into a building block for the polyester PEF, a green alternative for PET bottles. PhD student Willem Dijkman and other Groningen biochemists found an enzyme that can take three of the steps towards that conversion. Industrial partners will now be able to work out the next steps in the process of converting sugar to plastic.
Each episode of the weekly online video magazine Unifocus includes an item related to the University of Groningen, in the fields of research and society, student life, teaching, policy and internationalization.
| Last modified: | 03 November 2017 12.44 p.m. |
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23 April 2019
From paperclip to patent
How is it possible that an albatross doesn’t crash and die when it lands? And how come its large wings don’t break due to air resistance? That is what you would expect, according to the laws of aerodynamics. However, Professor Eize Stamhuis has discovered...
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17 April 2019
Why lightning often strikes twice
In contrast to popular belief, lightning often does strike twice, but the reason why a lightning channel is ‘reused’ has remained a mystery. Now, an international research team led by the University of Groningen has used the LOFAR radio telescope to...
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16 April 2019
Still going strong after four decades
On March 29th professor of Applied Physics Jeff de Hosson was offered a farewell symposium, a few months after his official retirement date near the close of 2018. ‘But 29 March was the 100th birthday of Jan Francken, my predecessor.’ Besides, De Hosson...