In The News
This new thermoplastic elastomer has a large impact resistance
Thermoplastic elastomers (TPEs) are typically copolymers of a plastic and a rubber that have both thermoplastic and elastomeric properties. The best-known TPEs include styrenic block polymers, which contain molecular blocks of polystyrene (which is hard) and polydiene (which is rubbery).…
Renewable dimethyl ether plant planned
Engineering design is underway for a new plant for making renewable dimethyl ether (rDME) from biogas produced by agricultural digesters or derived from landfills. Project developer Oberon Fuels (San Diego, Calif.; www.oberonfuels.com) is basing the new plant on its existing…
Chementator Briefs
Drive & Charge The R&D teams from Holcim Ltd. (Zug, Switzerland; www.holcim.com) and Magment GmbH (Oberhaching, Germany; www.magment.co) have developed a unique concrete with high magnetic permeability, which enables electric vehicles to recharge wirelessly while in motion. Known as inductive…
Reducing the carbon footprint of quicklime production
Decomposing limestone (CaCO3) into quicklime (burnt limestone; CaO) releases significant CO2 emissions, both from the combustion of fuel needed to heat the kiln to temperatures over 1,000°C, and by the release of CO2 from the reaction itself (CaCO3 → CaO…
Business News: February 2022
Plant Watch Ascend to build HMD plant in China’s Jiangsu province January 12, 2022 — Ascend Performance Materials (Houston; www.ascendmaterials.com) signed an investment agreement to construct a new hexamethylene diamine (HMD) and specialty chemicals plant in Lianyungang, China in the…
Predicting aluminum-alloy mechanical properties at high temperatures
Aluminum is used for a number of applications because it is lighter than iron and easy to machine. However, Al is usually alloyed with Cu, Mg or other elements for improved strength. Developing such alloys that maintain their strength at…
Bulk polymerization of elemental sulfur yields new flame-retardant plastics
A group of researchers from the University of Arizona (Tucson; www.arizona.edu), led by chemistry and biochemistry professor Jeff Pyun, are aiming to make use of sulfur waste streams from petroleum refineries. To meet environmental regulations, sulfur must be removed from…
Process Commercialization: The 2021 Kirkpatrick Chemical Engineering Achievement Award
To honor the efforts of those chemical engineers and their companies that have successfully commercialized a new process for the first time, Chemical Engineering magazine has been be-stowing its Kirkpatrick Chemical Engineering Achievement Award since 1933. The aim of the…
‘Crystallized’ hypochlorous acid brings enhanced antimicrobial performance
A new solid form of hypochlorous acid (HOCl) is showing promise as a highly effective antimicrobial agent. PCT Ltd. (Little River, S.C.; www.para-con.com) and Onza Corp. (Denver, Colo.; www.onzacorp.com) achieved what is said to be the industry’s first-ever successful “crystallization”…
Layered catalyst selectively generates two-carbon compounds from CO2
Copper-catalyzed electrochemical reduction offers a path for making valuable chemicals, such as ethanol or ethylene, from CO2. However, selectively generating sufficient yields of two-carbon products requires precise manipulation of the microenvironment near the surface to control reaction activity and product…