Polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA) are a class of biodegradable plastic materials that can be produced via a range of biological processes. Due to their versatile production pathways and physical properties, they have become an emerging alternative to fossil-based plastics. A new production…
Fast-growing power densities within the server racks at new data centers often generate enough heat to quickly overwhelm legacy air- and liquid-cooling methods, and managing the thermal load is becoming a constraint for the data-center infrastructure that supports AI. A…
A new manufacturing technique is helping to overcome some of the major hurdles in developing more reliable and durable all-solid-state batteries. Combining a controlled sintering step with precise passivation, researchers from Paul Scherrer Institute PSI (Villigen, Switzerland; www.psi.ch) focused on…
Much hydrogen produced via water electrolysis (“green” hydrogen) requires downstream compression for end use or storage. A new electrolyzer concept developed by Supercritical Solutions Ltd. (London; www.supercritical.solutions) produces high-pressure hydrogen using a membraneless technology. “Supercritical’s technology outputs hydrogen at pressures…
Traditional methods for making graphite involve heating premium needle coke and coal-tar pitch at temperatures above 3,000ºC in a process that requires several days of heating and cooling. A new process developed by researchers at the National Energy Technology Laboratory…
Calcining limestone (CaCO3) to produce lime (CaO) is a key industrial process for making cement, steel and chemicals, among other uses. Lime production is a target for CO2-abatement efforts because it generates a great deal of CO2 emissions, not only…
In a sector where capacity constraints, regulatory demands, and raw material shortages increasingly threaten day-to-day operations, it is crucial for chemical processors to understand the key factors to consider when selecting a toll processing partner Chemical manufacturers are currently working…
The PEM (proton exchange membrane) electrolysis process, which is particularly suitable for producing green hydrogen when the supply of electricity from wind power and photovoltaic systems fluctuates, is still very expensive compared to production using fossil fuels. Sustainability is also…
Saint-Gobain S.A. (Courbevoie, France) is reinforcing its construction chemicals position with an agreement to acquire a majority stake in Morteros de Europa in the Dominican Republic; and an agreement to acquire Grouttech, i.e. Grout Techniek B.V. (Netherlands) and Grout Techniek…
Asahi Kasei Corp. (Tokyo) announced it has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire all issued shares of Aicuris Anti-infective Cures AG, a German-based biopharmaceutical company, for approximately €780 million. This transaction expands Asahi Kasei’s specialty pharmaceutical platform further into…