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Microbial biohydrometallurgy boosts copper recovery from extremely challenging ores

A “plug-and-play” microbial technology enables the recovery of additional copper from low-grade ores when used alongside traditional sulfuric-acid heap-leach methods. Working synergistically within the existing heap-leach infrastructure, the unique microbial communities that have been cultivated by Endolith (Westminster, Colo.; www.endolithmining.com)…

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Using water to break ultra-strong PFAS bonds

Water contamination from per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) compounds is one of the most significant environmental and health issues globally. In particular, effectively breaking the carbon-fluorine bonds that are paramount to the stability and persistent nature of PFAS is extremely…

Adapting thin-film polymers for membrane separation of liquid hydrocarbons

Thin-film polymer membranes have been very effective for industrial-scale desalination of seawater, but have not been used for separation of liquid hydrocarbon mixtures because oil-separation membranes tend to absorb oil components and swell, which eliminates their size-sieving ability to separate…

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A new demonstration plant expands the horizons of post-consumer recycling

Operations are planned to start up soon at a first-of-its-kind recycling demonstration plant in Monthey, Switzerland. Employing a proprietary reaction technology developed by DePoly S.A. (Sion, Switzerland; www.depoly.co), the plant is set to treat up to 500 tons/yr of polyethylene…

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Business News: July 2025

Plant Watch Tosoh to construct new chloroprene rubber plant in Japan June 13, 2025 — Tosoh Corp. (Tokyo; www.tosoh.com) plans to increase its production capacity for chloroprene rubber (CR) by adding a second CR production facility at its Nanyo Complex…

New CO2-to-CO process commercialized by Axens, IFPEN and SMS Group

Axens, IFP Energies nouvelles (IFPEN; both Rueil-Malmaison, France) and SMS group, have successfully homologated the Carboverseo™ technology. This innovative reverse water-gas shift process, which converts CO2 into CO, is now live and ready to revolutionize the e-fuel industry by providing…

Sekisui Chemical to construct new injection-molding plant in Pune, India

Sekisui Chemical Co. Ltd. (Tokyo, Japan) has decided to establish sixth injection-molding plant in India for Sekisui DLJM Molding Pvt. Ltd., which manufactures and sells injection molded products for automobiles in Pune, Maharashtra in western India. The investment for establishing…

Kuraray to expand production capacity for optical films in Japan

Kuraray Co. (Tokyo) announced plans to expand production facilities for optical-use poval film, a base material for polarizing films used in liquid crystal displays (LCDs), at its Saijo Plant located in Saijo City, Ehime Prefecture, Japan.  With this expansion, the…

Aditya Birla acquires specialty alumina manufacturer in the U.S.

Hindalco Industries Ltd. the metals flagship of the Aditya Birla Group (Mumbai, India; www.adityabirla.com), has announced the acquisition of a 100% equity stake in US-based AluChem Companies, Inc., a prominent manufacturer of Specialty Alumina, for an enterprise value of $125…

Syensqo and Microsoft to collaborate on AI-supported sustainable materials development

Syensqo S.A. (Brussels, Belgium) and Microsoft Corp. (Redmond, Wash.) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to explore a strategic collaboration aimed at accelerating digital innovation and sustainable materials development. By combining Syensqo’s deep scientific expertise with Microsoft’s leadership in…