In The News
Novel PVC-recycling process piloted in Ohio
Polyvinyl chloride (PVC) is among the world’s most widely used polymers. Recycling PVC via mechanical and high-temperature chemical processes is challenging due to its chlorine content.The startup company Plastic Back (Tel Aviv, Israel; www.plastic-back.com) aims to raise the rates of…
Software Features Empower Process Optimization
AI, machine learning and predictive analytics encourage faster, data-driven decision making To help offset the loss of experienced operators and optimize operations, advanced features, such as artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning (ML) and predictive analytics, are being applied to software…
Business News: November 2025
Plant Watch World-scale black pellet plant begins commercial operation in Vietnam October 14, 2025 — Idemitsu Kosan Co. (Tokyo; www.idemitsu.com) has commenced commercial operation of its newly constructed plant in Gia Lai Province, Vietnam, to produce black pellets (BP), a…
Fibrous MOFs significantly accelerate CO2-adsorption kinetics
Solid adsorbents, including metal-organic frameworks (MOFs), have shown great promise in carbon-capture applications as an alternative to traditional amine-based processes. Typically, adsorbent materials are manufactured as powders and converted into beads or pellets to make them more suitable for large-scale…
Low-cost graphene-encapsulation technology improves cathode lifetimes
Battery performance tends to degrade over time due to the natural wear that occurs when, for example, cathode active materials (CAMs) expand and contract while shuttling ions for the reversible storage and release of electrical energy. CAMs also degrade due…
Destroy PFAS and remove perchlorate in a single process
A new water-treatment process is said to be the first to comprehensively destroy per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) while also eliminating perchlorates. The PFASER technology, developed by WSP Global (Montreal, Que., Canada; www.wsp.com) is an advanced electro-oxidation (EO) treatment system…
Low-capital-cost reactor could bring SAF closer to cost parity with fossil jet fuel
A unique reactor design allows the conversion of raw biogas (methane and carbon dioxide) into synthesis gas (syngas; hydrogen and carbon monoxide) at capital costs 100 times lower than those for gas-fired reformer reactors. Developed by e-fuels startup company Circularity…
Low-energy, application-specific carbon nanotube manufacturing with hydrogen co-product
Due to their strength, electrical conductivity and surface area, carbon nanotubes (CNTs) are increasingly finding application in advanced electronics, energy-storage installations, batteries, medical devices, separation processes and much more. A new CNT production technology developed by the SPICE division of…
New Packaging Technologies Ensure Chemical Safety
Robotics and smart systems contribute efficiency to chemical packaging Preparing chemicals and pharmaceuticals for distribution, transport, storage and use is a demanding operation. Fortunately, modern packaging solutions with advanced technologies and smart systems can increase the efficiency of packaging operations,…
Protein nanocages: Selective mini-concentrators for critical metals
Protein nanocages are hollow structures that can be used for a variety of applications in medical fields, including for drug and vaccine delivery. Now, groundbreaking work from the University of Pittsburgh (Pitt; www.pitt.edu) has shown that a class of protein…