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LyondellBasell to expand propylene production capacity at Channelview complex
LyondellBasell Industries N.V. (LYB; Rotterdam, the Netherlands) announced an investment to expand propylene production capacity at its Channelview Complex near Houston. Groundbreaking and construction are expected to begin in the third quarter of 2025, with a projected startup in late 2028.…
Expanded database tool for olivine samples
Olivine, a magnesium-iron silicate mineral, is common in the earth’s subsurface, and can sometimes contain other valuable elements, such as cobalt, manganese and nickel. Olivine has been explored as a possible sink for atmospheric carbon dioxide in carbon-capture methods that…
Show Preview: Interphex
Interphex 2025 (www.interphex.com) is taking place April 1–3 at the Javits Center in New York City. This event is targeted at professionals in the pharmaceutical manufacturing and biotechnology sectors. An exhibit hall with over 500 exhibitors will show-case the latest…
Executive Insights: Wacker Chemical Corporation
In this exclusive interview, Christoph Kowitz, president and CEO of Wacker Chemical Corporation, offers his perspective on the goals, challenges and accomplishments of the company, as well as the challenges faced by the chemical process industries Christoph Kowitz is the…
Algae-based wastewater treatment with lower energy consumption
Algae show promise for removing nutrients like phosphorus and nitrogen from wastewater due to their natural absorption abilities. However, the widespread use of algae-based wastewater treatment is limited by challenges related to system footprint, mass transfer and maintaining optimal conditions…
Cybersecurity Implications of IT and OT Convergence
As the “Industry 4.0” revolution progresses, the convergence of IT systems with OT systems presents significant security risks. Presented here are strategies to bridge the divide between the two areas and secure plant operations The convergence of information technology (IT)…
Aerogel insulation
A pilot plant intended to manufacture silica aerogel products for different applications, including spray insulation, is being planned by the company Aeroskin Tech AG (Zurich, Switzerland; www.aeroskintech.com). Aerogels are dried gels that maintain their volume when dried, and have nanoscale…
Editor’s page: The expanding role of AI in process operations
Respondents to a Q4 2024 survey of industrial leaders conducted by the ARC Advisory Group (Dedham, Mass.; www.arcweb.com) ranked artificial intelligence (AI) first, by a relatively large margin, among the digital technologies that they expect to be the most impactful…
Business News: March 2025
Plant Watch LG Chem set to commence production of bio-based acrylic acid February 13, 2025 — LG Chem Ltd. (Seoul, South Korea; www.lgchem.com) will commence the production of bio-based acrylic acid in the second quarter of 2025, with plans to…
A Guide to Biological Air Scrubbers
Biological air-cleaning systems are an effective alternative to filtration and activated carbon in many industrial applications, especially those with ultrafine particles or highly toxic contaminants Companies must maintain high air-quality standards, both indoors and outdoors, to ensure continued quality control…