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A hydrogen plant in Iceland will couple geothermal energy and solid-oxide electrolysis
A new demonstration facility in northern Iceland will integrate geothermal energy with a solid-oxide electrolyzer cell (SOEC) to produce green hydrogen, representing a key step toward lower-cost sustainable aviation fuel (SAF). This Thermal Hybrid Production System, developed by Syntholene Energy…
Induction-activated catalysis electrifies the production of olefins from plastic waste
A new approach to advanced recycling combines heterogeneous catalysis with electromagnetic induction, enabling the conversion of polyolefin-rich waste streams into versatile materials. Developed by bobine (Strasbourg, France; www.bobine-chemistry.com), this fully electric technology can help decarbonize the production of olefins like…
Plasmon-assisted electrochemistry allows a greener approach to olefin epoxidation
Olefin epoxidation is an important reaction for making a range of industrial intermediates in processes for epoxy coatings, polyurethanes, polyester textiles, surfactants, specialty chemicals, pharmaceuticals and others. Conventional olefin epoxidation involves organo-peroxides or organo-halogen oxidants, which present safety and environmental…
Business News: April 2026
Plant Watch Indorama Ventures to establish one of Africa’s largest recycling facilities for PET March 12, 2026 — Indorama Ventures Ltd. (Bangkok, Thailand; www.indoramaventures.com), Nigerian Breweries p.l.c. and Genesis Power & Energy Solutions Ltd. plan to establish one of Africa’s…
Pilot project paves the way for super-efficient ammonia cracking
Ammonia cracking, decomposing ammonia into its constituent nitrogen and hydrogen molecules, is gaining traction as an emerging source for cleaner hydrogen. However, this reaction is very endothermic and requires heat and high temperature. In a proprietary technology developed by Duiker…
Ionic liquids unlock specialized metal-oxide morphologies
Nanomox (London, U.K.; www.nanomox.net) has invented a synthesis platform for metal oxides where multifunctional ionic liquids enable high selectivity for specialized morphologies. While the technology can be tailored for a large number of metals, the company is currently targeting zinc…
Facts At Your Fingertips: Biocompatible materials
Biocompatible materials are designed and engineered to be introduced into the human body, either temporarily or permanently, as part of a medical device, to bring about therapeutic medical benefits. Biocompatible materials include various types of metals, ceramics, polymers and composite…
Improved recycling process for PGMs in electrolyzers and fuel cells preserves fluorinated-membrane materials for recovery
Current recycling methods for recovering platinum-group metals (PGMs) from catalyst-coated membranes (CCMs) used in proton-exchange membrane (PEM) electrolyzers and fuel cells incinerate the highly valuable membrane material, requiring the manufacture of new material and the management of hydrogen fluoride offgas…
Thermally switchable solvents allow selective extraction of lithium from brine mixtures
Extracting lithium from currently underutilized brines, such as geothermal and oilfield brines, will be necessary to meet the growing demand for lithium in energy-storage applications in the future. Technical hurdles for extracting lithium from these sources include the relatively low…
Nanostructured sorbent and electro-resistive heating lower costs for DAC system
Minimizing cost is the key parameter for the viability of direct-air-capture (DAC) systems that remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. The startup company Sustaera Inc. (Research Triangle Park, N.C.; www.sustaera.com) has built a prototype DAC system that it says can…