Plant Watch BASF commissions new fermentation plant in Ludwigshafen May 11, 2026 — BASF SE (Ludwigshafen, Germany; www.basf.com) announced that its Agricultural Solutions business commissioned a new fermentation plant for biological and biotechnology-based products at the Ludwigshafen site. The products…
Due to current global conditions, raw-material considerations — volatility in particular — are now being taken into account earlier, and integrated more intimately, into project planning and management strategies Over the past few years, raw materials have moved from the…
The final investment decision (FID) for a plant in Baytown, Tex. that will convert polyolefin waste into fuels and petrochemical feedstocks is anticipated near the end of 2026. The facility, operated by Abundia Global Impact Group Inc. (AGIG; Houston, Tex., www.abundiaimpact.com),…
Traditionally, student engineering internships are undertaken after completion of third-year undergraduate coursework, but earlier internships can provide benefits both to students and to companies The importance of internships to students and companies has been discussed in earlier articles [1–3] and…
Batteries with solid-state electrolyte materials, rather than liquids or gels, are a goal of technology developers because of their advantages for battery safety, durability and reduced charge times. Certain ceramic-based electrolytes have shown the ability to transport ions quickly, but…
Polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) are biodegradable polymers that are positioned as a promising alternative to conventional plastics. They can be produced from a variety of biological and renewable feedstocks. Mango Materials (MM; Vacaville, Calif.; www.mangomaterials.com) produces PHAs at a pilot plant and…
Demand for synthetic graphite, a top-priority critical material in the U.S., is increasing because of its use in lithium-ion battery anodes and in steel-making. To meet the increased demand, while also cultivating a domestic source of synthetic graphite (most of…
Hydrogen fuel cells, which use hydrogen and oxygen to generate clean electricity and pure water, are considered among the most promising clean energy sources. However, the accumulation of liquid water inside hydrogen fuel cells is a major roadblock to efficient…
Many wastewater-treatment plants rely on iron-based coagulation to remove phosphorus from water. Following treatment with iron-based coagulants, most iron present in the sewage sludge is in the form of an iron-phosphate mineral known as vivianite. A patented technology called ViviMag…
Molybdenum is a crucial element in many industrial catalysts used in the production of steels, alloys and specialty chemicals. Much of the global supply chain for molybdenum relies on mining operations in China and Russia, so various efforts are underway…