Advances in membrane technologies allow processors to delve into gas- and water-separation applications more effectively and efficiently Conventional membranes have a reputation for being “finicky” and “high maintenance” because they don’t operate well under high pressures or temperatures, are subject…
A new category of electrolysis could significantly lower the expenses associated with producing “green” hydrogen. In the new capillary-fed electrolyzer cell — designed by Hysata (Wollongong, Australia; www.hysata.com) based on research from the University of Wollongong (www.uow.edu.au) — water is…
Plant Watch ADM announces significant expansions in the U.S. and Germany April 14, 2022 — Archer-Daniels-Midland Co. (ADM; Chicago, Ill.; www.adm.com) will invest approximately $300 million to significantly expand its Decatur, Ill., alternative-protein production plant. The project is expected to…
NITROGEN UTILIZATION Late March, the first nitrogen fertilizer produced from a wastewater-treatment plant sidestream was delivered to a farm in Sweden. The fertilizer was produced at a pilot plant that began operation last December at Ragn-Sells Högbytorp’s (www.ragensells.se) wastewater-treatment and…
Before being fed to the blast furnace, iron ore is first converted into pellets by, for example, a traveling-grate (TG) pelletizing plant. In this plant, so-called green pellets are conveyed through a furnace that heats the pellets to high temperatures…
Strain on demand for critical battery metals is forcing manufacturers to seek alternative materials. Sulfur’s high thermal stability and abundance are making it a promising emerging battery material. A new class of solid-state lithium-sulfur batteries developed by Theion GmbH (Berlin,…
To lower their climate impact, petroleum refiners are increasingly assessing greenhouse-gas-emission intensities as they consider processing lower-carbon feedstocks. One area of particular activity is sustainable aviation fuels (SAF), where demand growth is accelerating While the oil-and-gas industry has been on…
A new catalyst-coated membrane (CCM) technology for hydrogen production, developed by Honeywell UOP (Des Plaines, Ill.; uop.honeywell.com), is undergoing performance validation testing in partnership with manufacturers of proton-exchange membrane (PEM) and anion-exchange membrane (AEM) electrolyzers. Made from both proprietary UOP…
Last month, Vale S.A. (Rio de Janeiro, Brazil; www.vale.com) began construction on the first commercial plant to use its Tecnored process, which produces pig iron with biomass instead of metallurgical coal (coke). Located in Marabá, in the southeast of Pará,…
A technology initially developed in Australia by OPEC Systems (Emu Plains, NSW, Australia; www.opecsystems.com) for separating and concentrating per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in a range of water applications has now been introduced in North America. The technology, known as…