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Gas-fed, solid-state electrolyzer could allow ethylene from waste-derived syngas
Conventional ethylene production via steam cracking of ethane or naphtha leads to the emission of 1 ton of CO2 for every ton of ethylene produced. Given the carbon intensity of the process and the annual volume of ethylene produced (300…
Modular, low-cost ammonia-production system is designed for intermittent energy
Ammonia is a critical input for agricultural fertilizers, but NH3 production is plagued by volatile prices, difficult global logistics and high CO2 emissions. A new NH3-production system from the startup TalusAg (Austin, Texas; www.talusag.com) addresses these challenges with a modular…
Editor’s page: From ‘automated’ to ‘autonomous’
The continued and expanding use of digitalization technologies in the process industries have pushed facility operations from “automated” — featuring distributed control systems, programmable logic controllers, safety instrumented systems and others — toward “autonomous” operations, where technologies like machine-learning, open-software-defined…
Unique support boosts single-atom indium catalysis of CO2-to-methanol reaction
Synthesis of methanol from carbon dioxide is among the key goals for net-zero-CO2 production of chemicals and fuels. Previous investigation has suggested that indium oxide could serve as an effective catalyst for this reaction, but the structural details of the…
Facts At Your Fingertips: Flexible Intermediate Bulk Containers
Flexible intermediate bulk containers (fIBCs) are large, collapsible woven containers designed for transporting and storing of dry, flowable materials, such as powders, grains and granules, in industrial settings. This one-page reference summarizes the available options for flexible IBCs. Normally made…
Rotating bioreactor scheme accelerates production of high-value products
A team of researchers at Iowa State University (ISU; Ames; www.iastate.edu) have developed a new bioreactor concept that streamlines production of value-added bioproducts at smaller scales by integrating three process steps (fermentation, product extraction and separation) into a single, compact…
Molten-salt nuclear reactors take the next step toward industrial deployment
Over decades of experimentation, molten-salt nuclear reactors have been shown to deliver high-temperature heat and extremely efficient electricity at reduced pressures. However, these reactors have yet to make the leap into widespread industrial adoption. Terrestrial Energy Inc. (Charlotte, N.C.; www.terrestrialenergy.com)…
Refiners Pursue Flexibility Amid Economic Headwinds
Petroleum refiners are taking steps to support and increase operational flexibility and business agility as logistical challenges and economic headwinds build, and policy certainty is difficult to find Amid the current economic climate, business agility and operational flexibility have emerged…
Chemical Engineering Business News: May 2026
Plant Watch Nouryon expands production capacity for colloidal silica in China April 13, 2026 — Nouryon (Amsterdam, the Netherlands; www.nouryon.com) is expanding production capacity for colloidal silica at its manufacturing site in Guangzhou, China to serve fast-growing segments like emissions-control…
High-Impact Tank Cleaning for Specialty Chemicals
By applying concentrated mechanical force, high-impact tank-cleaning systems can overcome the limitations of traditional cleaning methods in certain applications Tank cleaning in specialty chemical manufacturing isn’t just routine maintenance. It directly affects product quality, production schedules, worker safety and the…