Seán Ottewell

United States

Editor At Large at Chemical Processing

Editor at Freelance

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Articles

Biochemistry Meets Beauty: Seaweed and Shells Transform into Reusable Nails

3 weeks ago | chemicalprocessing.com | Seán Ottewell

Almost entirely made from a small selection of industrial polymers including acrylics and acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS), artificial nails are big business. According to Fortune Business Insights, the artificial nails market is expected to grow from $1.59 billion this year to $2.37 billion by 2032. Almost half of this will be spent on press-on nails. However, the artificial nail industry is not without its health and sustainability challenges.
AI Transforms Chemical Industry’s Sustainability Practices

1 month ago | chemicalprocessing.com | Seán Ottewell

Addressing Differing Digital MaturitiesStephen Reynolds, global industry principal for chemicals for AVEVA, Chicago, also emphasizes that the chemical industry’s wide spectrum of digital maturity means that solutions offered by vendors must be tailored to each application. “We have to find out where a customer is on their digital journey; what they are looking to achieve. It’s always a case of finding the right tool for the right solution,” he said.
Chocolate: From Theology and Processing to Functional Food

1 month ago | chemicalprocessing.com | Seán Ottewell

With Easter just behind us and chocolate consumption hitting its second-quarter 2025 peak, it’s a good time to reflect on the theological and processing developments that have got us where we are today. From Sacred Sips to Sweet TreatsBy the late 1600s, it was a favorite with pretty much every royal and wealthy family on the continent. However, the penchant for the elite to drink it during long church services prompted devout Catholics to worry that fasting rules were being broken.
Rice Process Eliminates PFAS, Generates Graphene

1 month ago | chemicalprocessing.com | Seán Ottewell

Rice Process Eliminates PFAS, Generates GraphenePFAS destruction method creates graphene from contaminated carbon materials. A new method for destroying per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) not only eliminates them from water systems but also generates high-value graphene. Researchers at Rice University developed the zero net cost method, which relies on flash Joule heating (FJH) technology.
Plastic Recycling Patents Reveal Global Innovation Trends

2 months ago | chemicalprocessing.com | Seán Ottewell

Plastic Recycling Patents Reveal Global Innovation TrendsWinners and losers in the recycling technology development race. A Circularity of TiresAt the end of January, Tokai Carbon, Tokyo, Japan, announced the launch of a project to develop processing technologies for Eco-Carbon Black (eCB) extracted from polymer products such as end-of-life tires containing rubber.
Grounds for Innovation: Brewing Plastic Alternatives

2 months ago | chemicalprocessing.com | Seán Ottewell

The broader vision for our project is to develop pathways for small-scale production and experimental fabrication using renewable biomaterials. Which U.S. industry is worth $350 billion per year and employs 2.2 million people spread across every single state and territory? Think espressos, lattes and cappuccinos; lots and lots of them, according to the National Coffee Association (NCA).
Chemical Looping Prevents Poisoned Catalyst

2 months ago | chemicalprocessing.com | Seán Ottewell

Processing EquipmentReaction & SynthesisChemical Looping Prevents Poisoned CatalystNovel catalyst tackles contamination in polymerization processes. Matt Jacob/University of MinnesotaFigure 1. The experimental set up included mass flow controllers, a furnace to heat the reactor, a recirculating pump to move the gases around, a gas chromatograph (GC) to monitor gas composition, and process lines to route the gases around between the reactor, pump, and GC.
Hydrogen Activation Catalyst Harnesses Boron and Sodium

Mar 21, 2025 | chemicalprocessing.com | Seán Ottewell

Processing EquipmentReaction & SynthesisHydrogen Activation Catalyst Harnesses Boron and SodiumResearchers started with the concept of frustrated Lewis pairs, which are incredibly reactive and capable of activating bonds in normally stable molecules. Researchers in Japan have developed a transition metal-free catalyst for activating hydrogen.
The Next Kevlar? Polymer Research Shows Promise

Mar 10, 2025 | chemicalprocessing.com | Seán Ottewell

Sixty years after Kevlar was first developed in a DuPont lab, the para-aramid polymer fiber’s heat resistance, high tensile strength and light weight have made it the stock-in-trade for a diverse set of applications. Possibly best known today for its use in ballistic armor, the polymer now is no stranger to industries including aerospace, automotive, PPE, adhesives and sealants, and emergency response, for example.
What’s New in Gas Separation Membrane Developments?

Feb 26, 2025 | chemicalprocessing.com | Seán Ottewell

Environmental FocusOne of the companies mentioned in the report, Evonik Industries, Marl, Germany, will focus its efforts on biogas producers in early 2025. The company claims its new SEPURAN Green G5X 11 biogas membrane is the largest of its kind on the market. It is specifically designed to upgrade biogas to renewable natural gas (RNG) in various situations.