Patron/Executive Editor
Dr. Khalil Ahmed Ibupoto
Director General, PASTIC
Editors
Ms. Nageen Ainuddin
Mr. M. Aqil Khan
Dr. Saima Tanveer
Ms. Saima Majeed
Composer
Ms. Tasnim-Un-Nisa
T
ECHNOLOGY
R
OUNDUP
Technology Information Section (TIS)
Pakistan Scientific & Technological Information Centre
PASTIC
May-June, 2012
Vol. 4, No. 3
A NEWS BULLETIN FROM
Tech News Headlines
Forthcoming Tech Events
Tech & Trade Offers
Phone: 051-9248103-4, 9248111
Fax: 051-9248113
Email:editor@pastic.gov.pk
Web: www.pastic.gov.pk
PASTIC National Centre
Quaid-i-Azam University Campus
P.O. Box 1217, Islamabad
Editorial Board
l Nano-Syringe for Brain Cancer Therapy
l Nanoparticles May Increase Plant DNA Damage
l Scientists Regenerate Damaged Mouse Hearts by
Transforming Scar Tissue into Beating Heart Muscle
l Hair Regeneration from Adult Stem Cells
l Electricity and Carbon Dioxide Used to Generate
Alternative Fuel
l
Technology Exhibition: Technologies (R&D) For Rice Sector
l Packaging, Plastics, Mould & Die Machinery Surabaya
l IITEC Pakistan 2012- IT & Telecom Exhibition & Conference
l Subconist & EF
l Climate Change: A Challenge for Agriculturists
l Gemeinsame Jahrestagung der DGEM, AKE und GESKES
l The 20th European Biomass Conference and Exhibition
Peel Bond Strength Tester
Natural Air Purifier
6
Technology Roundup
Electricity and Carbon Dioxide Used to Generate Alternative Fuel
Researchers at the UCLA Henry Samueli School of Engineering and Applied
Science have demonstrated a method for converting carbon dioxide into liquid
fuel isobutanol using electricity.
Today, electrical energy generated by various methods is still difficult to store
efficiently. Chemical batteries, hydraulic pumping and water splitting suffer
from low energy-density storage or incompatibility with current transportation
infrastructure.
Ralph M. Parsons Foundation Chair in Chemical Engineering, and his team
report a method for storing electrical energy as chemical energy in higher alcohols, which can be used as liquid
transportation fuels.
The current way to store electricity is with lithium ion batteries, in which the density is low, but when it is stored
in liquid fuel, the density could actually be very high. In addition the electricity can be used as transportation fuel
without needing to change current infrastructure.
Liao and his team genetically engineered a lithoautotrophic microorganism known as Ralstonia eutropha H16 to
produce isobutanol and 3-methyl-1-butanol in an electro-bioreactor using carbon dioxide as the sole carbon
source and electricity as the sole energy input.
Photosynthesis is the process of converting light energy to chemical energy and storing it in the bonds of sugar.
There are two parts to photosynthesis a light reaction and a dark reaction. The light reaction converts light energy
to chemical energy and must take place in the light. The dark reaction, which converts CO2 to sugar, does not
directly need light to occur.
The researchers have been able to separate the light reaction from the dark reaction and instead of using
biological photosynthesis, they are using solar panels to convert the sunlight to electrical energy, then to a
chemical intermediate, and using that to power carbon dioxide fixation to produce the fuel. This method could be
more efficient than the biological system.
Liao explained that with biological systems, the plants used require large areas of agricultural land. However,
because Liao's method does not require the light and dark reactions to take place together, solar panels, for
example, can be built in the desert or on rooftops.
Theoretically, the hydrogen generated by solar electricity can drive CO2 conversion in lithoautotrophic
microorganisms engineered to synthesize high-energy density liquid fuels. But the low solubility, low mass-
transfer rate and the safety issues surrounding hydrogen limit the efficiency and scalability of such processes.
Instead Liao's team found formic acid to be a favorable substitute and efficient energy carrier.
from adult epithelial stem cells and dermal papilla cells can regenerate fully functional hair follicle and hair
growth. Their bioengineered follicles showed restored hair cycles and piloerection through the rearrangement of
follicular stem cells and their niches. The bioengineered hair follicle also developed the correct structures and
formed proper connections with surrounding host tissues such as the epidermis, arrector pili muscle and nerve
fibers.
This study thus reveals the potential applications of adult tissue-derived follicular stem cells as a bioengineered
organ replacement therapy.
Www.researchsea.com
37
Technology Roundup
Instead of using hydrogen, they use formic acid as the intermediary and use electricity to generate formic acid and
then use the formic acid to power the CO2 fixation in bacteria in the dark to produce isobutanol and higher
alcohols.
The electrochemical formate production and the biological CO2 fixation and higher alcohol synthesis now open
up the possibility of electricity-driven bioconversion of CO2 to a variety of chemicals. In addition, the
transformation of formate into liquid fuel will also play an important role in the biomass refinery process.
Www.ucla.edu
Forthcoming Tech Events
Itechnology Exhibition: Technologies (R&D) For Rice Sector
www.pastic.gov.pk
Packaging, Plastics, Mould & Die Machinery Surabaya
www.emeraude-international.com
IITEC Pakistan 2012- IT & Telecom Exhibition & Conference
www.explorelahore.com
Subconist & EF
www.biztradeshows.com
Climate Change: A Challenge for Agriculturists
http://www.aup.edu.pk/
Gemeinsame Jahrestagung der DGEM, AKE und GESKES
Http://www.ernaehrung2012.de/
The 20th European Biomass Conference and Exhibition
http://www.conference-biomass.com
7 May, 2012
Gujranwala
6-12 June, 2012
Indonesia
30 May- 2 Jun 2012
Turkey
28-30 May, 2012
Pakistan
14-16 June, 2012
Germany
18-22 June, 2012
Italy
7-9 July, 2012
3
8
Technology Roundup
About PASTIC
PASTIC serves as a gateway for
Scientific & Technological
Information for R&D by
catering to the information
n e e d s o f r e s e a r c h e r s ,
entrepreneurs, industrialists,
educationists, policy makers
a n d p l a n n e r s t h r o u g h
anticipatory and responsive
information services.
T e c h n o l o g y I n f o r m a t i o n
Service Section of PASTIC
works exclusively for support
and promotion of technological
information on trade and
industry in the country.
“Technology Roundup” is a
news bulletin that provides
l a t e s t a n d i n n o v a t i v e
technology news, forthcoming
events, etc. It also promotes
products, technologies and
services globally in sectors
such as Agro-Industry, Bio-
Technology, Building Material,
B u s i n e s s , C h e m i c a l s ,
Electronics, Energy, Fisheries,
Food Processing, Machinery,
P a c k a g i n g , M i n i n g
Pharmaceuticals and Textiles.
Please give us your feedback and address queries to editor@pastic.gov.pk
Natural Air Purifier
http://indusvalleycrafts.com
Instead of a machine, you can have a totally natural and
inexpensive. Lamp comes complete with 6 " UL listed
power cord with on/ off switch, polarized plug and 15W
bulb.950 ~ 1050 ionic/ cc. Treatment area is 64 square
feet .Electricity Consumption is 30 Watt.
Company Contact
Indusvalleycrafts
Mr. Masroor Saeed [Director/CEO/General Manager]
Mobile:
923217802222
Phone: 92-61-6781458
Fax: 92-42-7707384
Address: 103 Hadiat Ullah Block, Mustafa Town, Lahore, Pakistan
Tech & Trade Offers
Peel Bond Strength Tester
Www.marstraders.com
Peel test or adhesion testing is the measurement of the
adhesive or bond strength between two materials, determine
the strength requires to separating fabric with interlining /
fusing gives repeatable and accurate results long Gripper is
provided to hold the test specimen accurately and can be used
vertically and horizontally.
Features:
1. Digital Gauge 10 kg -10g (20 & 25 Kg Available)
2. Kg to Lb unit conversion facility
3. Sensitivity 1%
4. Large LCD Display
5. Auto peak hold, Tar button
6. Long Battery Backup-More than 100 hrs
7. Auto Power off for saving batteries after 20 seconds
8. Screen back light On / Off control
Company Contact
Mars Traders
Mr. Ziauddin Qureshi [Director/CEO/General Manager]
Mobile: 92-301-8235127
Phone: 92-21-36057366
Fax: 92-21-5206702, 1-630-981-0641
Address: R-243, Sector-9, North Karachi, Pakistan