The destruction of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) presents unique issues in wastewater treatment, as these substances are persistent in many treatment environments, and PFAS-laden purification media is challenging to dispose of. Now, InEnTec Inc. (Richland, Wash.; www.inentec.com) says that…
Because of their excellent mechanical properties, light weight and biodegradability, cellulose nanofibers (CNF) are attractive materials for next-generation reinforced biomaterials and bioplastics. However, the method for separating cellulose to make CNF, known as fibrillation, is energy-intensive, which limits applications for…
Consider the potential for stem seal leakage when selecting a valve Experienced process control engineers follow familiar, time-tested steps when presented with a new system to design and specify. Selecting a control valve for a process always requires the same…
A handheld Raman device for material identification This company’s handheld 1,064-nm Raman Progeny analyzer (photo) is used for raw material identification, in-process analysis and authentication of finished products in pharmaceutical manufacturing. Traditional processes can include laboratory analysis, a costly and…
Acrylic acid, a commodity chemical used widely in superabsorbent polymers, paints, coatings, adhesives and more, is typically produced from fossil-based propylene at relatively high temperatures. As part of an initiative supported by the U.S. Dept. of Defense, funding was recently…
The electrolytes used in nearly all lithium-ion and sodium-ion batteries are carbonate-based, which makes them flammable and prone to degradation mechanisms, including side reactions, which can result in gas evolution and the formation of undesirable chemicals like hydrogen fluoride. A…
With a recent round of investment funding, UP Catalyst (Tallinn, Estonia; www.upcatalyst.com) plans to build a pilot plant for a process that converts waste carbon dioxide into a range of solid carbon materials, such as carbon nanotubes, (CNTs), graphite and…
Environmental imperatives drive the development of technologies for the chemical recycling of plastic waste, but significant hurdles – including economic viability, collection logistics and feedstock complexity – need to be addressed for chemical recycling to have a larger impact Plastic…
An artificial intelligence (AI)-based search tool allowed workers to quickly mine historical data to improve operations and respond to emerging problems At the Bayer Crop Science facility in Muttenz, Switzerland, managers and workers wanted to improve communication during shift handovers…
Significant sustainability benefits can be gained through optimization in steam-cracking furnaces. The study detailed here shows the specific decarbonization strategies that can help improve energy efficiency and reduce emissions The chemical process industries (CPI) rely heavily on steam cracking to…