The ongoing search for an alternative glucose feedstock has led to the development of a process that also tackles another persistent environmental challenge — the accumulation of textile waste. Research conducted by Avantium and the University of Amsterdam discovered that the cotton content in polyester-cotton (polycotton) textiles could be selectively recovered and converted into glucose. MORE

Aggregate — solid materials like sand, gravel and crushed stone — is combined with cement to make concrete, the world’s most widely used human-made material. But sand is in short supply, so there is a need for alternate materials to serve as concrete aggregate. Scientists at Northwestern University have developed a method for making sand-like materials for concrete by combining carbon dioxide with minerals from seawater. MORE

Many valuable materials, including lithium and nickel, manganese and cobalt (NMC) metal oxides, can be recovered from black mass, but current recycling practices require temperatures in excess of 1,000°C and highly corrosive acids. A new recycling method effectively separates the cathode and anode materials from black mass using ultrasound waves and oil nanodroplets in water. MORE

A dual process strategy bridging fermentation and electrochemistry is enabling the production of mid-chain carboxylic acids (MCCAs) using inexpensive organic waste streams from breweries, distilleries and dairies. Developed by a research team at Johns Hopkins University’s Whiting School of Engineering, led by Michael Betenbaugh, professor of chemical and biomolecular engineering, the process is one of 17 projects selected for federal funding under the U.S. Dept. of Defense’s BioMADE initiative. MORE

The extraction of alumina from bauxite is significantly impacted by the silica content of the ore — specifically the presence of silica in kaolinite. This is because traditional bauxite-beneficiation methods, such as washing, flotation and particle-size separation, also typically result in the loss of alumina bound in the kaolinite structure. MORE

A new facility in Texas to manufacture high-purity graphene powder from acetylene has been announced by HydroGraph Clean Power Inc. At capacity, the facility will generate thousands of metric tons per year of sp2-bonded powdered graphene with lateral particle sizes of 20 to 50 nm. MORE

Construction is planned for a pilot plant that will demonstrate a modular electrochemical technology for extracting rare-earth elements (REEs) and nickel from industrial wastes, such as coal ash. The startup Blueshift recently announced venture capital funds that will allow the company to grow its staff and build a commercial pilot facility in the Boston area to start operations in mid-2026. MORE