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A major byproduct in the papermaking industry is lignosulfonate, a sulfonated carbon waste material, which is typically combusted on site, releasing CO2 into the atmosphere after sulfur has been captured for reuse. Now researchers at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute have developed a method to use this cheap and abundant paper biomass to build a rechargeable lithium-sulfur battery. Such a battery could be used to power big data centers as well as provide a cheaper energy-storage option for microgrids and the traditional electric grid. Click Read More below for additional information.

The 10 Roads group of companies — one of the largest U.S. mail haulers — announced Monday it will wind down all operations over the next 60 days and cease service to the U.S. Postal Service (USPS) by Jan. 30, citing steep revenue losses tied to major USPS network changes. In a statement to FreightWaves, the company said it has faced “continued and significant headwinds” across the transportation sector, compounded by fundamental operational shifts at USPS over the past two years. Those changes include increased use of brokers and the insourcing of transportation work — a trend that 10 Roads said has resulted in a 70% loss of revenue with expectations of further declines, company officials said. The company, which has provided mail-haul transportation to USPS for more than 47 years, said it has formally notified USPS of its intent to discontinue service. “We remain very appreciative of our long-standing relationship with the USPS and are committed to supporting a smooth transition,” the spokesperson added.