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Trends in automation
I remember first learning the fundamentals of process control in my undergraduate courses some years ago. Our professor taught the class with a passion for the subject while impressing upon us, his students, how important the subject would be for…
Panasonic Energy and Sumitomo Metal Mining enter nickel-recycling partnership
Panasonic Energy Co., a Panasonic Group Company, announced the launch of a recycling initiative for nickel used in lithium-ion battery cathode materials, in collaboration with Sumitomo Metal Mining Co., Ltd., a leading Japanese non-ferrous metal smelting and refining, and cathode…
BASF establishes global production for anode binders with manufacturing scaleup in the U.S.
BASF SE (Ludwigshafen, Germany) has expanded its manufacturing capabilities in the U.S. to include the production of Licity anode binders, aimed at supporting the rapidly evolving lithium-ion battery industry. Thanks to this new production capability, BASF now offers its Licity…
Upcycling of difficult plastics with metathesis
Polybutadiene (PB) and acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) are widely used polymers in a number of products (including vehicle tires, kitchen appliances, computer hardware, toys and others), but are not generally recycled. Researchers at Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL; Oak Ridge,…
A world-first process for recycling aluminum-smelter waste to be piloted in Tasmania
Aluminum smelting operations require molten cryolite, also commonly called bath, to serve as the electrolyte and dissolve alumina. A typical smelter produces excess bath over time, and there are few markets for reuse or recycle of this material, especially as…
Temperature Measurement Optimizes Processes
Enhanced measurement capabilities offer more reliable control to boost quality, reduce waste and ensure safety As optimization, sustainability and safety initiatives continue to be a driving force in the chemical process industries (CPI), accurate, responsive and reliable temperature measurements are…
This drag conveyor is designed for quick and easy CIP
The new CablePro tubular drag conveyor (photo) is designed with components that offer chemical compatibility, including corrosion-resistant coatings and polished stainless-steel tubing. It is equipped with self-lubricating disks, which are injection-molded directly onto a pre-stretched, oil-lubricated stainless-steel braided cable with…
Plant Watch: April 2025
Plant Watch Saint-Gobain Ceramics to construct catalyst carriers plant in New York March 11, 2025 — Saint-Gobain S.A. (Courbevoie, France; www.saint-gobain.com), through its subsidiary Saint-Gobain NorPro, intends to build a new manufacturing facility in Wheatfield, N.Y. With an investment of…
The industry’s most comprehensive biodegradability assessments — even for large polymers
For product developers, understanding a substance’s biodegradability is essential in many applications to ensure compliance with toxicity and environmental regulations. Aropha, Inc. (Cleveland, Ohio; www.aropha.com) has developed a platform for biodegradability testing that reaches far beyond the typical breadth of…
Nanofiltration approach recovers aluminum from process waste
The industrial production of aluminum involves electrolysis of alumina (Al2O3) in molten cryolite, a mineral used as a solvent for the aluminum oxide raw material. Over time, the cryolite accumulates impurities, such as sodium, lithium and potassium ions, which degrade…