Latest News
Electrified process converts CO2 and biochar into industrial products
The production of salable co-products can substantially improve the economics for CO2 conversion processes. A new electrified thermochemical process developed by startup Reduciner Oy (Espoo, Finland; www.reduciner.com) combines captured CO2 streams with biochar to produce carbon monoxide, along with activated…
Editor’s Page: Seeking Wise Counsel
The leadership expert Ken Blanchard said “None of us is as smart as all of us” — a phrase that applies to Chemical Engineering's process of editorial decision-making. One source of intelligence is the CE Editorial Advisory Board. We have…
Business News: July 2026
Plant Watch Air Liquide starts up CO2-capture pilot unit at Holcim cement facility June 11, 2026 — Air Liquide S.A. (Paris, France; www.airliquide.com) started up its first industrial-scale pilot unit specifically designed for the cement sector, based on its proprietary…
Circular-loop recycling for disposable baby diapers demonstrated in Europe
Disposable baby diapers are a challenging waste stream, because the absorbent polymers, non-woven fibers and organic material prevent them from mechanical-recycling processes. However, a three-way partnership has demonstrated a circular system for chemical recycling of disposable diapers. The project, involving…
Focus On: Temperature Measurement and Control
A temperature monitor to help reveal abnormal conditions The Synchros temperature monitor (photo) is designed to gather surface and ambient temperature data that can reveal abnormal conditions across assets such as pumps, heat exchangers, rotating equipment, steam systems and heat-tracing…
Pilot project debuts integrated hydrogen storage and transport using aqueous-salt technology
Hydrogen production is expanding across the globe, but hydrogen gas remains difficult and costly to store and transport, restricting its broader use. A pilot project in Germany is demonstrating for the first time a salt-based process for long-term hydrogen storage.…
Tower Doctor: Should a Doctor Diagnose by a Hunch?
Henry Kister shares lessons learned from troubleshooting distillation towers The C2 splitter tower is the final step in ethylene plant distillation. It separates a high-purity ethylene top product (typically a few hundred ppm ethane impurity) from the ethane recycle bottoms.…
Facts At Your Fingertips: Particle Stress and Feed Requirements for Impact Milling
The chemical process industries (CPI) include many applications of impact comminution to process solid matter, such as minerals, chemical products, foods and pharmaceutical products. This one-page reference discusses conditions for particle fracture and feed characteristics in industrial milling equipment. Particle…
New insights into graphene oxide’s strengthening effects in concrete could accelerate commercial development
The nanomaterial graphene oxide (GO) has been investigated as a way to improve concrete strength, but reported results of GO’s effects have been inconsistent and detailed understanding of the mechanisms of its strength-enhancing effects has been elusive. New studies by…
Atomically thin photocatalysts unlock new pollution-degradation capabilities
Researchers at the University of Birmingham (www.birmingham.ac.uk) have demonstrated a new production method for ultra-thin catalysts, unlocking new capabilities for the catalytic breakdown of persistent water pollutants. “The production method takes layered materials as the precursor, disperses them in a…