Latest News: Business
Fish-inspired nanorobots for lithium recovery from seawater
A Texas A&M University (College Station, Texas) research team is developing a new approach to lithium recovery using tiny, fish-like swimming nanorobots that capture lithium ions from seawater. Supported by a $1 million U.S. Department of Energy (DOE; Washington, D.C.)…
Chemists use programmable DNA as ‘molecular glue’ to direct protein crystallization
For decades, scientists have largely relied on painstaking trial and error to coax proteins into crystalline forms. Crystallization enables scientists to determine the molecular structures of proteins, which can provide a blueprint for designing drugs, engineering enzymes, and understanding disease.…
Sasol and partners commission 2-kW PEM electrolyzer to advance South Africa’s green hydrogen economy
Sasol Ltd. (Sandton, South Africa), the Department of Science, Technology and Innovation (DSTI; Pretoria, South Africa), the South African National Energy Development Institute (SANEDI; Sandton, South Africa), and North-West University (NWU; Potchefstroom, South Africa) have commissioned a 2-kW Proton Exchange…
Researchers unlock molecular mechanism of CO2-to-graphite conversion via molten-salt electrolysis
Researchers at the U.S. Department of Energy's Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (Berkeley Lab; Berkeley, California), UC Berkeley (Berkeley, California), and Estonia's National Institute of Chemical Physics and Biophysics (Tallinn, Estonia) have shown a promising way to convert waste carbon pulled…
Antimony trisulfide plant commissioned at Idaho National Laboratory
Idaho National Laboratory (INL; Idaho Falls, Idaho) has announced the commissioning of a new modular mineral processing plant, which will be instrumental in helping the U.S. to secure a domestic supply of the critical mineral antimony trisulfide . The plant…
Hexpol acquires Italian themoplastics manufacturer Vipa Group
HEXPOL AB (Malmö, Sweden) announced that it has acquired 100% of the Italian company Vipa Group (Ancarano, Italy). The company is one of Europe's leading developers and manufacturers of high-quality thermoplastic compounds with focus on the fast-growing Wire & Cable…
AGC transfers shares of polymer material business to Saint-Gobain
AGC Inc. (Tokyo, Japan) has entered into a share transfer agreement with Saint-Gobain K.K. (Tokyo, Japan), the Japanese subsidiary of Compagnie de Saint-Gobain S.A. (Courbevoie, France). Under the agreement, AGC will transfer all of its shares in AGC Polymer Material…
ADM to expand oilseed crush capacity to meet North American renewable fuels demand
Archer-Daniels-Midland Co. (ADM; Chicago, Illinois), a global leader in innovative solutions from nature, announced a series of investments designed to expand North American oilseed crush capacity and strengthen the company's ability to meet growing demand for renewable fuels and other…
Lallemand and Braskem launch bio-acetone coproduction platform for corn-ethanol industry
Lallemand Biofuels & Distilled Spirits (LBDS; Montreal, Queb., Canada), a global leader in yeast, enzymes, microbials and nutrition, and Braskem (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania), the largest polyolefins producer in the Americas and global leader in the production of biopolymers on an industrial…
Bp completes sale of Gelsenkirchen refinery to Klesch Group
bp plc (London, England) has completed the sale of its Gelsenkirchen refinery and related businesses to Klesch Group (London, England). The transaction supports bp's continued focus on disciplined capital allocation and is also expected to lower underlying operating expenditure by…