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Chemical Engineering

A flexible, origami-based fuel cell

Until now, manufacturing polymer-electrolyte membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs) that are small, light and capable of mechanical movement has been challenging using conventional methods. PEMFCs are composed of end plates, bipolar plates, gaskets, membrane-electrode assemblies (MEAs) and other assembly parts, of…

Proof-Testing Level-Measurement Devices in Storage-Tank Safety Systems

Storage tanks containing hazardous materials require safety instrumented systems (SIS) to prevent overfills. Digital technology in the latest level-measurement devices used in SIS enables remote proof-testing, which provides significant advantages At industrial facilities with tanks containing hazardous, flammable or explosive…

A solvent-free process makes battery electrodes

Conventional processes for manufacturing battery electrodes use toxic solvents and require a lot of space and energy. In contrast, DRYtraec — a new dry-coating process developed by the Fraunhofer Institute for Material and Beam Technology (IWS; Dresden, Germany; www.iws.fraunhofer.de) —…

Chementator briefs

'New food' GEA AG (Düsseldorf, Germany; www.gea.com) has received a contract from Novozymes A/S (Copenhagen, Denmark; www.novozymes.com) for a turnkey fitting of a major new plant to produce plant-based proteins for the plant-based food industry. The high double-digit million-euro order…

Two new semiconductor-based nanomaterials synthesized for the first time

The latest generations of computer chips are only a few nanometers in size and are becoming ever more energy-saving and powerful as a result of progressive miniaturization. Since the etching processes traditionally used in chip production are increasingly reaching their…

Mitsubishi Gas Chemical to expand meta-xylenediamine capacity in Europe

Mitsubishi Gas Chemical Company, Inc. (MGC; Tokyo) has announced the expansion of Meta-xylenediamine (MXDA) production in Europe. MGC is expanding its production capacity of MXDA to meet the market growth in the epoxy, polyamide and isocyanate sector. MGC will be…

Albemarle to acquire lithium-conversion company in China

Albemarle Corporation (Charlotte, N.C.) announced that its subsidiary, Albemarle Lithium UK Limited, has signed a definitive agreement to acquire all of the outstanding equity of Guangxi Tianyuan New Energy Materials Co., Ltd. (Tianyuan), a lithium converter located in Guangxi, China.…

ArcelorMittal to construct DRI plant, electric furnaces in Gent

ArcelorMittal Belgium will reduce CO2 emissions by 3.9 million tons per year by 2030, by building a 2.5 million-ton direct reduced iron (DRI) plant and two electric furnaces at its Gent site, to operate alongside its state-of-the-art blast furnace that…

Hexion to split into two companies

Hexion Holdings Corp. (Columbus, Ohio) announced its plan to separate into two independent companies. The two companies will be Hexion Holdings, composed of the Company’s Adhesives and Versatic Acids and Derivatives product lines, and Hexion Coatings and Composites (US) Inc.…

Nouryon starts production of TBHP and TBA at new plant in Ningbo

Nouryon (Amsterdam, the Netherlands) has started production at a new manufacturing facility located at its site in Ningbo, China, to meet increasing demand in the Asia region for polymers used in the Packaging, Paints and Coatings and Construction end-markets. The…