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Electro-extraction technique unlocks copper in waste streams
Initiatives to increase electrification and build digital infrastructure for artificial intelligence are among the trends increasing demand for copper (and other critical materials), prompting efforts to identify new sources of the metal. The startup company SiTration (Watertown, Mass.; www.sitration.com), a…
Eco-friendly method for making MOF-encapsulated enzymes expands possibilities
Enzyme-based biocatalysts are a key aspect of industrial green-chemistry initiatives, but they often don’t have the required stability to perform in industrial settings. A strategy for allowing enzymes to function longer and under harsher conditions has been to encapsulate them…
Alignment on worker chemical safety
In the U.S., worker chemical safety is a key concern at a wide range of industrial facilities. The current regulatory framework for worker chemical safety is overseen by two federal agencies: traditionally, by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA;…
Focus On: Laboratory Equipment
This X-ray fluorescence analyzer has sub-ppm sensitivity The ALTRACE is a benchtop energy-dispersive X-ray fluorescence (EDXRF) spectrometer (photo) designed for rapid, non-destructive elemental analysis across a wide range of sample types. Featuring sub-ppm sensitivity, it provides screening for elements from…
Bulk-Solids Storage and Flow: Silos and Stockpiles
This article provides guidance on the selection and sizing of silos and stockpiles in bulk-solids-handling operations, and clarifies misconceptions surrounding gravity-reclaim storage systems for bulk-solids materials Gravity-reclaim systems for bulk-solids handling rely solely on gravity to withdraw material from storage…
Multivariable Sensors Offer Better Accuracy and Insight
Multivariable measurements can help optimize processes and drive sustainability With chemical manufacturers under pressure to gain a better understanding of their processes, improve operational efficiency and safety, control costs and provide accurate data to regulators, the use of multivariable process…
Alkaline thermal process generates hydrogen fuel from mixed plastic waste
A team of researchers from the Ewha Women’s University (Seoul, South Korea; www.ewha.ac.kr) and the University of California at Los Angeles (UCLA; www.ucla.edu) have taken a step toward addressing one of the main challenges in plastics recycling — economically processing…
Extending the Life of Legacy Rotary Dryers
Rotary dryers are often in operation for many decades after their initial commissioning. This article provides a decision framework to consider whether to upgrade, repair or replace an aging rotary dryer Rotary dryers are fundamental to ensuring product quality and…
A more straightforward condensation route from bioethanol to linear alcohols
Linear alcohols, such as butanol, hexanol and octanol are widely used in coatings, adhesives, surfactants, detergents, lubricants, cosmetics and many other products, as well as fuels. Typical industrial methods for producing these alcohols rely on fossil resources and low-selectivity mechanisms…
Printable gel electrolytes support bespoke battery architectures
Unlike conventional liquid electrolytes used in lithium-ion batteries, gel polymer electrolytes (GPEs) are immobilized within a polymer network, which reduces leakage risks, thereby improving mechanical and thermal stability. However, current methods for GPE fabrication result only in two-dimensional planar films,…