Chemical Engineering
New method lowers energy required for production of cellulose nanofibers
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…
Destroy PFAS while also producing syngas
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…
A non-toxic co-solvent makes batteries safer and more efficient
The solvent N-methylpyrrolidone (NMP) has been used to coat anodes and cathodes in lithium-ion batteries, but it has been shown to be a reproductive toxin, necessitating controlled handling and recycling within a closed system, which adds complexity and cost to…
Cepsa rebrands itself as Moeve, highlighting focus on energy transition
Cepsa announced its name change to Moeve, marking a significant milestone in the company’s transformation. This change positions Moeve as a leader in the European energy transition and demonstrates the significant progress achieved under its 2030 Positive Motion strategy, reinforcing…
Merck KGaA investing $76 million to expand MilliporeSigma manufacturing plant in St. Louis
MilliporeSigma, the U.S. and Canada Life Science business of Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany, announced a $76 million expansion of its antibody-drug conjugates (ADC) manufacturing capabilities and capacity at its Bioconjugation Center of Excellence facility in St. Louis, Missouri. This investment…
Grace announces startup of Nayara Energy polypropylene plant
W. R. Grace & Co. (Grace; Columbia, Md.) announced that Nayara Energy Limited (Nayara Energy) successfully started up its new 450,000-ton/yr UNIPOL PP process technology plant in Vadinar, Gujarat, India. Using Grace’s non-phthalate CONSISTA catalysts with the UNIPOL PP process…
Nobian and Adven to build a new electric caustic soda facility in Delfzijl
Energy partner Adven is starting the construction of an energy-efficient evaporation plant with Nobian, a company working in salt, essential chemicals and storage caverns, in Delfzijl, the Netherlands. This reduces 25,000 tons of CO₂ emissions annually, an energy saving of…
SWA Lithium and Koch Technology Solutions sign license for DLE project in North America
SWA Lithium, the joint venture (JV) between Standard Lithium and Equinor which is developing the South West Arkansas Project, has entered into a license agreement with Koch Technology Solutions LLC (KTS) to deploy and use KTS’ Li-Pro Lithium Selective Sorption…
BASF Petronas Chemicals inaugurates new 2-ethylhexanoic acid plant in Malaysia
Joint venture BASF Petronas Chemicals (BPC) announced the inauguration of its second 2-ethylhexanoic acid (2-EHAcid) production line at the integrated site in Kuantan, Malaysia. This expansion directly responds to the rapidly growing demand for high-quality 2 EHAcid, reaffirming BPC’s commitment…
Invista to continue HMD production at Orange, Texas site
Invista (Wichita, Kan.) announced it would continue hexamethylene diamine (HMD) production at its site in Orange, Texas. “Since last year’s announcement regarding ending adiponitrile (ADN) and HMD operations at our Orange site, multiple circumstances have changed, including the Orange site’s…