Chemical Engineering
PVC polymer chlorination with LEDs enhances resin stability
Lubrizol (Cleveland, Ohio; www.lubrizol.com) recently began producing chlorinated polyvinyl chloride (CPVC) resin in commercial reactors equipped with light-emitting diodes (LEDs) as the light source, instead of the conventional mercury lamps. The company’s LED reactor technology enhances the thermal stability of…
Low-temperature plasma process supports direct recycling of battery cathodes
Direct battery-recycling methods, such as re-lithiation — where depleted lithium is replenished directly onto cathodes via a solid-state reaction — hold many benefits over indirect methods, such as those relying on hydrometallurgy or pyrometallurgy, where cathodic structures are destroyed in…
Electrochemical-redox process expands recycling potential for LFP batteries
Lithium-iron-phosphate (LFP) batteries offer a compelling combination of performance characteristics for stationary energy storage, including improved safety and longevity, when compared to other lithium battery chemistries, such as nickel- and cobalt-based formulations. However, there are limited recycling pathways dedicated to…
Unique support boosts single-atom indium catalysis of CO2-to-methanol reaction
Synthesis of methanol from carbon dioxide is among the key goals for net-zero-CO2 production of chemicals and fuels. Previous investigation has suggested that indium oxide could serve as an effective catalyst for this reaction, but the structural details of the…
Gas-fed, solid-state electrolyzer could allow ethylene from waste-derived syngas
Conventional ethylene production via steam cracking of ethane or naphtha leads to the emission of 1 ton of CO2 for every ton of ethylene produced. Given the carbon intensity of the process and the annual volume of ethylene produced (300…
Facts At Your Fingertips: Flexible Intermediate Bulk Containers
Flexible intermediate bulk containers (fIBCs) are large, collapsible woven containers designed for transporting and storing of dry, flowable materials, such as powders, grains and granules, in industrial settings. This one-page reference summarizes the available options for flexible IBCs. Normally made…
Refiners Pursue Flexibility Amid Economic Headwinds
Petroleum refiners are taking steps to support and increase operational flexibility and business agility as logistical challenges and economic headwinds build, and policy certainty is difficult to find Amid the current economic climate, business agility and operational flexibility have emerged…
Thermo Fisher Scientific opens bioprocess design center in Massachusetts
Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. (Waltham, Mass.) announced the opening of its flagship U.S. Bioprocess Design Center (BDC) at the company’s Plainville, Mass., site, expanding the facility to support customers in developing and scaling biologics. The new center brings together advanced…
Ecolab expands bioprocessing capacity with new facility in Korea
Ecolab Inc. (St. Paul, Minn.) announced that its Life Sciences business is further expanding its global bioprocessing capabilities to support biopharmaceutical manufacturers worldwide. Today, Ecolab Life Sciences announced the opening of a new Bioprocessing Applications Lab (BPAL) in Dongtan, Korea,…
Ineos Acetyls and Sandpiper Chemicals announce plans for low-carbon methanol plant in Texas
INEOS Acetyls and Sandpiper Chemicals, LLC announced the formation of a strategic collaboration in support of Sandpiper’s low-carbon methanol production facility in Texas City, Texas. INEOS will become a shareholder and an anchor customer of Sandpiper. The project represents a…