Cellulose nanoparticles are of great interest as constituents of polymer composite materials because they can dramatically increase strength and toughness in a range of different polymer types. “Cellulose nanoparticles can be thought of as a more sustainable version of carbon…
Curing with less Pt Silicone-release coatings generally use a platinum-based curing catalyst. Aiming to reduce the amount of this expensive precious metal, Shin-Etsu Chemical Co. (Tokyo, Japan; www.shinetsusilicones-global.com) has developed a Reduced-Platinum Reaction-Curing System Technology that lowers Pt usage by…
The Marchesini Group S.p.A. (Pianoro Bologna, Italy; www.marchesini.com) and a multidisciplinary research group at Bologna University (www.unibo.it) have created a prototype that manufactures “super” filtering material for face masks with greater protection against viruses and bacteria compared to materials currently…
Ragn-Sells AB (Sollentuna, Sweden; www.ragnsells.com) has partnered Hitachi Zosen Inova AG (Zürich, Switzerland; www.hz-inova.com) for the construction of a new plant that is designed to extract resources from flyash — a toxic byproduct of waste incinerators that normally ends up…
QuesTek Innovations LLC (Evanston, Ill.; www.questek.com) has introduced a stainless-steel powder designed for additive manufacturing (AM; 3D printing) that allows complex, high-strength parts to be made without the need for expensive post-treatments, such as cryogenic processing or high-temperature heat treatment.…
Using a proprietary technique and Clariant’s (Muttenz, Switzerland; www.clariant.com) Hydex E next-generation hydro-dewaxing catalyst, VUCHT a.s (Bratislava, Slovakia; www.vucht.sk) has successfully converted plastic waste into premium winter-fuel distillate. The efficacy of this process has now been proven in a pilot…
Traditionally, cyanide consumption with conventional bio-oxidation residues is higher than with residues produced through other oxidative technologies. The Outotec MesoTherm BIOX process, based on its proven mesophile BIOX process, offers an easy, cost-effective upgrade path that can cut cyanide consumption…
Fats, oil and grease (FOG) waste can create environmental problems for water-treatment and sewage systems, but can be a potential resource if collected and separated efficiently. A technology originally developed by Downey Ridge Environmental Co. (Lansing, W.Va.; www.greasezilla.com) to separate…
Isononyl alcohol Last month, Dow, Inc. (Midland, Mich.; www.dow.com) and Johnson Matthey (London, U.K.; www.matthey.com) announced that Zibo Qixiang Tengda Chemical Ltd. (QXTD; Linzi district, China; en.qxtdgf.com), has selected LP Oxo Technology to produce isononyl alcohol (INA) at its new…
Researchers at Washington State University (Pullman, Wash.; www.wsu.edu) and Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (Richland, Wash.; www.pnnl.gov) have created a cathode material and electrolyte system for a Na-ion battery that overcomes limitations observed with previous approaches to Na-ion batteries. Na-ion batteries…