Latest News
Saint-Gobain makes chemicals acquisitions in Canada, Italy and Peru
Saint-Gobain S.A. (Courbevoie, France) is reinforcing its construction chemicals portfolio with three new acquisitions: Interstar Materials in North America; Isoltech in Italy; and Soquimic in Peru. Interstar Materials is a leading North American manufacturer of high-performance pigments for all segments…
Clariant in collaboration with Shanghai Boiler Works to advance green energy projects in China
Clariant AG (Muttenz, Switzerland) announced that it has signed a strategic cooperation agreement with Shanghai Boiler Works, a full subsidiary of Shanghai Electric, specializing in energy conversion and the development of new energy applications, to jointly foster innovation in sustainable…
Linde commissions one of the world’s largest helium-storage caverns
Linde plc (Dublin, Ireland) announced it has commissioned one of the world’s largest helium-storage caverns, further strengthening long-term reliability in this critical global market. The storage facility, located in Beaumont, Texas, has a capacity of more than three billion cubic…
Versalis and Acea Ambiente join forces for advanced plastic recycling
Versalis, Eni’s chemical company, and Acea Ambiente, a subsidiary of Acea operating in integrated waste management and energy recovery sectors, have entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed by Adriano Alfani, CEO of Versalis, and Gabriele Di Cintio, CEO…
CSB sends team to investigate explosion at Nebraska biofuels plant
The U.S. Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board (CSB; Washington, D.C.; www.csb.gov) is sending a team to investigate the fatal explosion at the Horizon Biofuels facility in Fremont, Nebraska, that occurred on July 29. The facility is approximately 30 miles…
Focus on: Pipes, Tubes and Fittings
Reducing wear on pneumatic conveying lines This company’s Smart Elbow® serves to deflect high-speed solid material in pneumatic conveying lines, thus minimizing abrasion and wear on the surface of the pipe. The design is an alternative to a traditional sweep…
Low-carbon cement formulated for additive manufacturing of residential housing
Manufacturing traditional cement for concrete is responsible for a sizeable (~8%) portion of overall global CO2 emissions. Meanwhile, anthropogenic global warming is driving the need for housing structures capable of withstanding hurricane-force winds and wildfires. The cement technology company Eco…
Method for improving mechanical properties of carbon-fiber-reinforced composites
Carbon-fiber-reinforced polymer composites are attractive materials for applications requiring lightweight, strong components, such as aviation and automotive. However, their performance has been partially limited by the bonds between the polymer matrix and the embedded carbon fibers. Now, researchers at Oak…
Proactive Dust Control Using Advanced Technologies
Integrated solutions include monitoring, collection and control to help manage complex risks Dust control is essential for safety, operational efficiency, product quality and regulatory compliance in the chemical process industries (CPI). Many of the materials handled in chemical facilities are…
Avoiding Over-Pressurization in Synthesis Reactions
Uncontrolled exothermic reactions present significant safety risks, including over-pressurization of a reactor. Presented here is information about how runaway reactions occur, and what can be done to avoid them Synthesis reactions are a cornerstone of chemical manufacturing and engineering. Due…