In The News
Solar clinker produced for the first time
Last month, Cemex, S.A.B. de C.V. (Cemex; Monterrey, Mexico; www.cemex.com) and Synhelion SA (Lugano, Switzerland; www.synhelion.com) successfully connected the clinker production process with the Synhelion solar receiver to produce solar clinker. The milestone is a first step towards fully solar-driven…
Corrosion Under Insulation Gets Attention at CPI sites
Corrosion under insulation (CUI) remains a persistent challenge at chemical process industries facilities, but the issue is receiving renewed attention amid a host of technologies, materials and methodologies for detection and prevention of CUI Corrosion of process equipment, piping and…
A new catalyst for the oxidative dehydrogenation of propane
Converting propane to propylene by oxidative dehydrogenation with CO2 is an alternative route to conventional propane dehydrogenation, but existing catalysts for this conversion are not very efficient. Now, in a study described in a recent issue of Nature Catalysis, researchers…
PFAS destruction using supercritical water
The presence of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in wastewater and groundwater has garnered increased attention as a health and environmental issue because of their recalcitrance and bioaccumulation. To complement existing PFAS separation technologies, the Battelle Memorial Institute (Columbus, Ohio;…
Large-scale production of insect proteins from waste
Agronutris (Saint Orens de Gameville, France; www.agronutris.com) has selected Bühler AG (Uzwil, Switzerland; www.buhlergroup.com) as its process-solution provider for its first commercial-scale black-soldier-fly plant. Bühler will deliver a full-scope solution for the facility, which will be built in Rethel, France.…
An electrochemical process for producing and recycling VRFB electrolytes
Electrochem Technologies & Materials Inc. (Montreal, Canada; www.electrochem-technologies.com) has recently patented its process for the production and recycling of all vanadium electrolytes (VE) used in vanadium redox flow batteries (VRFBs). This electrochemical technology offers a sound and profitable alternative to…
A more sustainable alternative for producing egg-white protein
Egg white is one of the most important protein ingredients for the food industry, with a market of 1.6-million ton/yr in 2020 and projected to grow in the future. Searching for sustainable alternatives to animal-based proteins has been of growing…
Advanced amine-scrubbing solvent offers carbon-capture advantages
Honeywell UOP (Des Plaines, Ill.; www.honeywell.com/uop) recently began offering a post-combustion carbon-capture system based on new advanced solvent technology that allows for improved carbon-capture economics for hard-to-abate industries, such as steelmaking, rotary kiln operations (such as cement-making) and natural-gas power…
Demonstration plant will convert waste biomass into emissions-free hydrogen
A new demonstration plant near Bakersfield, Calif. will produce carbon-negative “green” H2 from woody biomass waste, such as agricultural residues from orchard trees and walnut shells. Developed by Mote, Inc. (Los Angeles, Calif.; www.motehydrogen.com), with engineering partners Fluor Corp. (Irving,…
Business News: February 2022
Plant Watch Ascend to build HMD plant in China’s Jiangsu province January 12, 2022 — Ascend Performance Materials (Houston; www.ascendmaterials.com) signed an investment agreement to construct a new hexamethylene diamine (HMD) and specialty chemicals plant in Lianyungang, China in the…