Sustainability
Renewable dimethyl ether plant planned
Engineering design is underway for a new plant for making renewable dimethyl ether (rDME) from biogas produced by agricultural digesters or derived from landfills. Project developer Oberon Fuels (San Diego, Calif.; www.oberonfuels.com) is basing the new plant on its existing…
Reducing the carbon footprint of quicklime production
Decomposing limestone (CaCO3) into quicklime (burnt limestone; CaO) releases significant CO2 emissions, both from the combustion of fuel needed to heat the kiln to temperatures over 1,000°C, and by the release of CO2 from the reaction itself (CaCO3 → CaO…
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…
Holcim and Eni exploring CCUS technologies in ‘green’ cement processes
Holcim Ltd. (Zug, Switzerland) is partnering with Eni S.p.A. (Rome, Italy) to advance its carbon capture portfolio, repurposing CO2 from its operations into its green cement. Eni is putting its carbon capture and mineralization expertise to work to store CO2…
Toray announces plans for blockchain-supported traceability platform
Toray Industries, Inc. (Tokyo, Japan) will collaborate with blockchain technology solutions firm Soramitsu Co., Ltd., to initiate a proof-of-concept trial during the year ending March 2023 for a blockchain-based traceability system. One key goal of the Toray Group Sustainability Vision…
Saipem, Tenaris and SIAD collaborating on CCU plant in northern Italy
Italian companies Tenaris, Saipem S.p.A. and SIAD have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to start the design phase of a carbon dioxide capture and utilization (CCU) plant, to be built at the Tenaris plant in Dalmine, northern Italy. The…
Sinopec completes construction of China’s largest CCUS project
China Petroleum & Chemical Corporation (SINOPEC) has completed the construction of China's first megaton carbon capture, utilization and storage (CCUS) project, the Qilu-Shengli Oilfield CCUS (the "Project") on January 29, which will reduce carbon emission by 1 million tons per year,…
Lanxess and Matrìca partner to produce biocide preservatives from renewable feedstock
Lanxess AG (Cologne, Germany) and Matrìca, a joint venture between Versalis S.p.A. (San Donato Milanese) and Novamont, have partnered to produce sustainable biocide preservatives from renewable raw materials. Starting in January 2022, the Matrìca plant at Porto Torres (Sardinia, Italy)…