-
1 week 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.
-
2 weeks 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).
-
3 weeks 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.
-
1 month ago | 
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.
-
1 month ago | 
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.
-
1 month ago | 
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.
-
1 month ago | 
chemicalprocessing.com | Seán Ottewell
Research from regions as diverse as the Arctic and Aegean is helping scientists understand how industrial activity has impacted the environment over the last 5,000 years and continues to do so today. For example, a study published last year in Science of The Total Environment shows how per- and polyfluorinated alkyl substances (PFAS) persist, accumulate and pose threats to Arctic biodiversity and humans.
-
2 months ago | 
chemicalprocessing.com | Seán Ottewell
Asset ManagementSustainabilityPatented Prototype Uses Wind and Mesh to Make AmmoniaGreen ammonia represents a new frontier in sustainability and could reduce reliance on fossil fuels. A team led by Stanford University researchers has demonstrated a prototype device that manufactures ammonia by using wind energy to draw air through a catalyst-coated mesh. The portable, patented device operates at room temperature and standard atmospheric pressure and requires no external voltage to run.
-
Jan 20, 2025 | 
chemicalprocessing.com | Seán Ottewell
Utilities/EnergyChemical Industry Eyes Hydrogen, Nuclear and Geothermal to Fuel Decarbonization With ambitious sustainability targets in sight, the chemical sector looks to hydrogen, modular nuclear and geothermal energy to transform production processes and reduce emissions — but political and market dynamics may impact progress.
-
Jan 15, 2025 | 
chemicalprocessing.com | Seán Ottewell
When fat, oil and grease (FOG) materials hit sewers, they tend to go through hydrolysis and saponification reactions during which they amalgamate with other debris flushed down the toilet. The whole horrible mess adheres to the inner sewer surface, and so a fatberg is born. Metals, particularly calcium, that leach from the predominantly concrete pipes exacerbate the problem and promote further adhesion.
