Chemical Engineering
“Frugal” method adsorbs and destroys PFAS with photocatalyst
Removing per- and polyfluoralkyl substances (PFAS) from surface and groundwater has become an environmental and public health imperative, but methods for doing so are often complicated and costly, and may not destroy the molecules. Researchers at the University of British…
A low-cost method for bio-based production of acrylic acid
Acrylic acid, a commodity chemical used widely in superabsorbent polymers, paints, coatings, adhesives and more, is typically produced from fossil-based propylene at relatively high temperatures. As part of an initiative supported by the U.S. Dept. of Defense, funding was recently…
Business News: November 2024
Plant Watch BASF completes superabsorbent polymers expansion project in Texas October 16, 2024 — BASF SE (Ludwigshafen, Germany; www.basf.com) announced that its petrochemicals division has completed production upgrades for superabsorbent polymers (SAP) after a $19.2-million investment in its Freeport, Tex.…
Facts At Your Fingertips: Milling for Particle Size Control
Milling is commonly used for particle-size reduction and control of particle-size distribution (PSD) for crystalline solids. Mills are effective for generating consistent solids properties, through size reduction and surface-modification mechanisms [1]. This one-page reference outlines the mechanical forces involved in…
Chemical Recycling is Essential for Plastics Circularity, but Faces Challenges
Environmental imperatives drive the development of technologies for the chemical recycling of plastic waste, but significant hurdles – including economic viability, collection logistics and feedstock complexity – need to be addressed for chemical recycling to have a larger impact Plastic…
Investigating Decarbonization Strategies for Steam-Cracker Furnaces
Significant sustainability benefits can be gained through optimization in steam-cracking furnaces. The study detailed here shows the specific decarbonization strategies that can help improve energy efficiency and reduce emissions The chemical process industries (CPI) rely heavily on steam cracking to…
AI-Powered Search Improves Knowledge Transfer at Agricultural Chemicals Site
An artificial intelligence (AI)-based search tool allowed workers to quickly mine historical data to improve operations and respond to emerging problems At the Bayer Crop Science facility in Muttenz, Switzerland, managers and workers wanted to improve communication during shift handovers…
Cepsa rebrands itself as Moeve, highlighting focus on energy transition
Cepsa announced its name change to Moeve, marking a significant milestone in the company’s transformation. This change positions Moeve as a leader in the European energy transition and demonstrates the significant progress achieved under its 2030 Positive Motion strategy, reinforcing…
Merck KGaA investing $76 million to expand MilliporeSigma manufacturing plant in St. Louis
MilliporeSigma, the U.S. and Canada Life Science business of Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany, announced a $76 million expansion of its antibody-drug conjugates (ADC) manufacturing capabilities and capacity at its Bioconjugation Center of Excellence facility in St. Louis, Missouri. This investment…
Grace announces startup of Nayara Energy polypropylene plant
W. R. Grace & Co. (Grace; Columbia, Md.) announced that Nayara Energy Limited (Nayara Energy) successfully started up its new 450,000-ton/yr UNIPOL PP process technology plant in Vadinar, Gujarat, India. Using Grace’s non-phthalate CONSISTA catalysts with the UNIPOL PP process…