Minimizing cost is the key parameter for the viability of direct-air-capture (DAC) systems that remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. The startup company Sustaera Inc. (Research Triangle Park, N.C.; www.sustaera.com) has built a prototype DAC system that it says can…
Nanomox (London, U.K.; www.nanomox.net) has invented a synthesis platform for metal oxides where multifunctional ionic liquids enable high selectivity for specialized morphologies. While the technology can be tailored for a large number of metals, the company is currently targeting zinc…
Ammonia cracking, decomposing ammonia into its constituent nitrogen and hydrogen molecules, is gaining traction as an emerging source for cleaner hydrogen. However, this reaction is very endothermic and requires heat and high temperature. In a proprietary technology developed by Duiker…
Extracting lithium from currently underutilized brines, such as geothermal and oilfield brines, will be necessary to meet the growing demand for lithium in energy-storage applications in the future. Technical hurdles for extracting lithium from these sources include the relatively low…
A new demonstration facility in northern Iceland will integrate geothermal energy with a solid-oxide electrolyzer cell (SOEC) to produce green hydrogen, representing a key step toward lower-cost sustainable aviation fuel (SAF). This Thermal Hybrid Production System, developed by Syntholene Energy…
Current recycling methods for recovering platinum-group metals (PGMs) from catalyst-coated membranes (CCMs) used in proton-exchange membrane (PEM) electrolyzers and fuel cells incinerate the highly valuable membrane material, requiring the manufacture of new material and the management of hydrogen fluoride offgas…
HAZOP data management should be treated as a systemic process-safety issue, as it can be a significant and invisible source of inefficiency. This article describes the principles required to create HAZOP records that can stand on their own over time…
Utilizing waste plastics as feedstocks in circular processes requires a systems-based approach. Presented here are the challenges that must be overcome to make circular hydrocarbons investable, scalable and repeatable For more than a decade, the chemical process industries (CPI) has…
A new process called BioSintering takes advantage of plant-based bio-active molecules to fuse together particles at mild temperatures, yielding an alternative material for conventional ceramic tiles with a much lower carbon footprint. Developed by Dekiln (Manchester, U.K.; www.dekiln.com), the technology…
Polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA) are a class of biodegradable plastic materials that can be produced via a range of biological processes. Due to their versatile production pathways and physical properties, they have become an emerging alternative to fossil-based plastics. A new production…