The industrial production of aluminum involves electrolysis of alumina (Al2O3) in molten cryolite, a mineral used as a solvent for the aluminum oxide raw material. Over time, the cryolite accumulates impurities, such as sodium, lithium and potassium ions, which degrade…
Polybutadiene (PB) and acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) are widely used polymers in a number of products (including vehicle tires, kitchen appliances, computer hardware, toys and others), but are not generally recycled. Researchers at Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL; Oak Ridge,…
Decreasing the dependence on expensive platinum-group metals like iridium is vital for the expansion of “green” hydrogen production via proton-exchange membrane (PEM) water electrolysis. Efforts to develop lower-iridium catalytic components for electrolysis have typically focused on mixing iridium into a…
Plant Watch Saint-Gobain Ceramics to construct catalyst carriers plant in New York March 11, 2025 — Saint-Gobain S.A. (Courbevoie, France; www.saint-gobain.com), through its subsidiary Saint-Gobain NorPro, intends to build a new manufacturing facility in Wheatfield, N.Y. With an investment of…
Coveralls for chemical and fire protection This company’s recently launched Tychem® 6000 SFR is a lightweight, hooded garment (photo) designed to help protect people working in challenging environments against multiple chemical and flash-fire hazards. Tychem garments may be suitable for…
Effective measurement of corrosion on process equipment and plant structures offers several benefits to plant operators. These include providing early warnings about damaging process conditions that could lead to corrosion-induced failures, establishing correlations between changes in process parameters and their…
Intermediate buik containers (IBCs) are commonly used to contain and transport flowable solid materials across many industry sectors. Provided here is an overview of the applications for which different types can be used, as well as their benefits Intermediate bulk…
One way to develop safer, more-sustainable chemical processes is to substitute potentially harmful chemicals with less-risky alternatives. Organic solvents, which are widely used in industrial processes, can pose health, safety and environmental risks. Researchers at Rice University (Houston, Tex.; www.rice.edu)…
By leveraging advanced analytics platforms, chemical processors are revealing pump trends and insights that help increase operational efficiency In the information age, centralized monitoring technologies offer countless benefits for the chemical process industries (CPI). Using data generated by sensors installed…
The 8271 CMP miniature pressure transmitter (photo) is designed with small and rugged construction that enables integration into processes where space is limited. It withstands harsh environments, vibrations and potential physical impacts, ensuring longevity. An optional five-fold overpressure resistance enhances…