In The News
Ultra-rapid production of battery materials using plasma technology
A new ultra-rapid plasma-based process could significantly expand the availability of premium materials for battery applications. Developed by 6K, Inc. (North Andover, Mass.; www.6kinc.com), UniMelt is a single-pass, continuous process that employs a proprietary microwave torch technology to create a…
Business News: March 2022
Plant Watch Lummus and Synthos double planned capacity of bio-butadiene plant February 10, 2022 — Following a successful feasibility study last year, Lummus Technology (Houston; www.lummustechnology.com) and Synthos S.A. (Oswiecim, Poland; www.synthosgroup.com) announced that their new bio-butadiene technology is ready…
A sulfur-tolerant catalyst for the deoxygenation of sulfoxides
The transformation of sulfur-containing molecules is an important reaction in organic and pharmaceutical chemistry. However, the sulfur atom strongly coordinates with the active sites of metal catalysts, significantly decreasing the catalytic performance. Sulfur impurities contained in chemical feedstocks also cause…
Rubber electrolytes could stretch the capabilities of solid-state batteries
A new class of electrolyte aims to bridge the performance gaps between the electrolytes used in conventional lithium-ion batteries and solid-state batteries. The new rubber electrolytes, developed by a team of researchers from Georgia Institute of Technology (Georgia Tech; Atlanta;…
Quantum-inspired computing technology drastically accelerates materials design
Semiconductor materials contain numerous ingredients in various mixing ratios, and high-performance materials are obtained by optimizing the formulation. However, more than 1,050 theoretical combinations of ingredients and mixing ratios need to be analyzed, so it would take more than dozens…
A more sustainable alternative for producing egg-white protein
Egg white is one of the most important protein ingredients for the food industry, with a market of 1.6-million ton/yr in 2020 and projected to grow in the future. Searching for sustainable alternatives to animal-based proteins has been of growing…
PAT Framework Provides Benefits in the CPI
Beyond product quality, process analytical technology (PAT) strategies optimize processes and efficiency in the chemical process industries The process analytical technology (PAT) initiative was started by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 2003 to ensure quality of product…
Advanced amine-scrubbing solvent offers carbon-capture advantages
Honeywell UOP (Des Plaines, Ill.; www.honeywell.com/uop) recently began offering a post-combustion carbon-capture system based on new advanced solvent technology that allows for improved carbon-capture economics for hard-to-abate industries, such as steelmaking, rotary kiln operations (such as cement-making) and natural-gas power…
Demonstration plant will convert waste biomass into emissions-free hydrogen
A new demonstration plant near Bakersfield, Calif. will produce carbon-negative “green” H2 from woody biomass waste, such as agricultural residues from orchard trees and walnut shells. Developed by Mote, Inc. (Los Angeles, Calif.; www.motehydrogen.com), with engineering partners Fluor Corp. (Irving,…
This new thermoplastic elastomer has a large impact resistance
Thermoplastic elastomers (TPEs) are typically copolymers of a plastic and a rubber that have both thermoplastic and elastomeric properties. The best-known TPEs include styrenic block polymers, which contain molecular blocks of polystyrene (which is hard) and polydiene (which is rubbery).…