Latest News
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
Kuraray Expedites Catalyst Development with AI-Powered Materials-Discovery Platform
Specialty chemicals company Kuraray drastically accelerated decision-making and resource allotment by leveraging an AI-driven platform in its R&D division Materials discovery has long been the backbone of the chemical process industries (CPI), driving advances in resins, specialty chemicals, advanced fibers,…
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…
Innovation in Respiratory Protection Systems
Investing in high-performance respiratory-protection technologies not only supports employee health and safety, but also strengthens the reliability and resilience of companies’ operating systems and workflows In countless sectors of the economy, workers are exposed to risks to their respiratory systems.…
World-first sewage-treatment trial proves comprehensive dual-phase PFAS removal
An ongoing large-scale demonstration project in Australia is the world’s first to apply a foam-fractionation technology to remove per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in a sewage-treatment plant. The Surface-Active Foam Fractionation (SAFF®) technology developed by EPOC Enviro (Emu Plains, NSW,…
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.…