Chemical Engineering
Process Analytical Technology and the Role of Raman Spectroscopy
Process analytical technology (PAT) approaches allow continuous monitoring and real-time control of processes. Among the key monitoring technologies is Raman spectroscopy, which offers inline measurement that can reduce personnel time and sampling complexity The chemical industry faces new challenges with…
A platform technology for low-carbon cement makes progress
Two recent developments at Queens Carbon Inc. (Pine Brook, N.J.; www.queenscarbon.com), a spinoff company from Rutgers University (New Brunswick, N.J.; www.rutgers.edu), illustrate the potential for reducing the high carbon-dioxide emissions that result from cement and concrete production. Both are results…
World’s first grid-connected iron-air battery now operational in the Netherlands
The Netherlands-based startup company Ore Energy (Amsterdam, the Netherlands; www.oreenergy.com) recently announced that it has successfully connected its flagship iron-air battery system to the electric grid in the city of Delft, the Netherlands. It is the first iron-air battery system…
This process can fully mineralize PFAS with no toxic byproducts
Breaking the stable carbon-fluorine bonds within per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) is one of the most significant challenges in mitigating persistent PFAS pollution. The Hydrothermal Alkaline Technology (HALT; diagram), invented at the Colorado School of Mines (Golden, Colo.; www.mines.edu) and…
New reactor supports organic-assisted electrolysis for green hydrogen
The production of “green” hydrogen via electrolysis is seen as a key decarbonization pathway for certain industry sectors, but its efficiency can be hampered by a number of factors, including the accumulation of gas bubbles on electrode surfaces within electrolyzers…
Switchable solvent supports freshwater extraction from hypersaline brine
Extremely high-salinity water streams present difficulties for many types of processing equipment, such as membranes and filters, and most commercial treatment methods involve thermal evaporators or crystallization, which are energy-intensive and require special anti-corrosion materials. A new membrane-less, non-evaporative process…
Carbon dioxide removal combined with desalination
Most existing carbon-dioxide removal (CDR) approaches have focused on air, but the volumetric concentration of dissolved inorganic CO2 in surface water is much higher (150X) than its concentration in the atmosphere. Removing CO2 from water could prove to be a…
GEA commissions new spray dryer at Chugai Pharmaceutical in Japan
GEA (Düesseldorf, Germany; www.gea.com) is supplying Chugai Pharmaceutical in Japan with a cutting-edge pharmaceutical spray dryer designed and built to meet the highest containment standards. The PSD-3 spray dryer was successfully commissioned in the first quarter of 2025 and represents…
Beyond the Datasheet: Common Pitfalls in Specifying Pressure-Relief Valves
Even seasoned engineers can fall into the trap of trusting valve datasheets too much. In real chemical‑processing environments, “on paper” performance can fall short — especially when factors like backpressure, fluid phase, fire exposure, or piping layout are misunderstood. This…