In The News
A zinc-based catalyst makes syngas by co-electrolysis
Researchers from the University of New South Wales (Sydney, Australia; www.unsw.edu.au), led by professor Rose Amal, have shown that by making zinc oxide at very high temperatures using a technique called flame spray pyrolysis (FSP), they can create nanoparticles that…
Waste-based rubber can be joined or repaired catalytically
A new sustainable rubber that can, with an amine catalyst, be repaired and returned to its original strength in minutes, has been discovered by researchers from Flinders University (Adelaide, Australia; www.flinders.edu.au), the University of Western Australia (Perth), and the University…
Virus Countermeasures Drive Worker Safety
The COVID-19 threat has increased the urgency for implementing contagion-prevention strategies and controls for workers at industrial sites Chemical process industries (CPI) companies are used to managing a range of worker health risks related to chemical exposure, extreme temperatures and…
Making CO-rich syngas while avoiding carbon formation
Haldor Topsoe A/S (Lyngby, Denmark; www.topsoe.com) has developed a new technology, called ReShift, that can utilize a significant amount of CO2 for making synthesis gas (syngas; H2 + CO) without the traditional challenge of carbon formation. “CO2 addition in HyCO…
A step toward supercritical-carbon-dioxide power generation
Construction is complete on a new building to house a fully integrated electricity-generating power plant that will demonstrate operability and performance of a 10-MW power-generation facility using supercritical carbon dioxide (sCO2) as the working fluid in a Brayton thermodynamic cycle.…
New method makes nanocellulose composites industrially viable
Cellulose nanoparticles are of great interest as constituents of polymer composite materials because they can dramatically increase strength and toughness in a range of different polymer types. “Cellulose nanoparticles can be thought of as a more sustainable version of carbon…
Chementator Briefs-Aug 2020
Curing with less Pt Silicone-release coatings generally use a platinum-based curing catalyst. Aiming to reduce the amount of this expensive precious metal, Shin-Etsu Chemical Co. (Tokyo, Japan; www.shinetsusilicones-global.com) has developed a Reduced-Platinum Reaction-Curing System Technology that lowers Pt usage by…
Italian industry-academic collaboration yields prototype machine for making new masks
The Marchesini Group S.p.A. (Pianoro Bologna, Italy; www.marchesini.com) and a multidisciplinary research group at Bologna University (www.unibo.it) have created a prototype that manufactures “super” filtering material for face masks with greater protection against viruses and bacteria compared to materials currently…
CPI Business News – August 2020
Nouryon to build TBHP/TBA plant in Ningbo July 8, 2020 — Nouryon (Amsterdam, the Netherlands; www.nouryon.com) will start development of a new manufacturing facility at its site in Ningbo, China to produce two key intermediates for its organic peroxides business…
Commercial plant will recover salts from incinerator flyash
Ragn-Sells AB (Sollentuna, Sweden; www.ragnsells.com) has partnered Hitachi Zosen Inova AG (Zürich, Switzerland; www.hz-inova.com) for the construction of a new plant that is designed to extract resources from flyash — a toxic byproduct of waste incinerators that normally ends up…