Chemical Engineering
Chemical-Resistant Polymers in Corrosive Applications
Fluorinated plastics can be used as internal linings in process-equipment components for highly corrosive applications in chemical processing, and material development has allowed conductivity and compliance with food-contact applications The industrial production of chemicals forms the foundation for a wide…
Electrolysis at Scale: Unlocking Sustainable Lithium Hydroxide Production
Electrolysis-based lithium refining presents a promising alternative to conventional approaches, offering benefits related to reduced reagent consumption and effluent production, higher-purity products and an improved environmental footprint Electrolysis, a process that uses electric current to drive non-spontaneous chemical reactions, has…
Kuraray Expedites Catalyst Development with AI-Powered Materials-Discovery Platform
Specialty chemicals company Kuraray drastically accelerated decision-making and resource allotment by leveraging an AI-driven platform in its R&D division Materials discovery has long been the backbone of the chemical process industries (CPI), driving advances in resins, specialty chemicals, advanced fibers,…
Ionomer-free plastic for vacuum packaging applications results from collaboration
Ionomers (polymers that can form cross-links between chains due to ionized functional groups) are often used for vacuum-packaged products because they have the strength needed to resist puncture and tearing when vacuum is applied. Due to material shortages for ionomer…
Tower Doctor: Should a Doctor Diagnose by a Hunch?
Henry Kister shares lessons learned from troubleshooting distillation towers The C2 splitter tower is the final step in ethylene plant distillation. It separates a high-purity ethylene top product (typically a few hundred ppm ethane impurity) from the ethane recycle bottoms.…
Patent granted on system for feeding biomass to high-pressure reactors
One of the challenges for biofuels manufacturing is reliably feeding low-density feedstocks into high-pressure reactors, because it is difficult to feed agricultural and forest residue, as well as municipal solid waste, into pressurized systems without bridging, compaction and flow instability.…
New insights into graphene oxide’s strengthening effects in concrete could accelerate commercial development
The nanomaterial graphene oxide (GO) has been investigated as a way to improve concrete strength, but reported results of GO’s effects have been inconsistent and detailed understanding of the mechanisms of its strength-enhancing effects has been elusive. New studies by…
Circular-loop recycling for disposable baby diapers demonstrated in Europe
Disposable baby diapers are a challenging waste stream, because the absorbent polymers, non-woven fibers and organic material prevent them from mechanical-recycling processes. However, a three-way partnership has demonstrated a circular system for chemical recycling of disposable diapers. The project, involving…
INEOS Enterprises completes sale of INEOS Calabrian to Ecovyst
INEOS Enterprises announced the completion of the sale of INEOS Calabrian, its ultra-pure sulfur dioxide and derivatives business, to Ecovyst Inc. (Malvern, Pa.). The transaction, valued at $190 million, marks the successful conclusion of a strategic divestment first announced in…
Endress+Hauser opens two new facilities in the U.S.
The Endress+Hauser Group (Reinach, Switzerland) opened two new facilities in the United States in June 2026. With these locations in Greenwood, Indiana, and Edgmont, Pennsylvania, the company is further expanding its presence in the country and strengthening its collaboration with…