Latest News
What HAZOP Information Really Represents — and How It Should Be Managed
HAZOP data management should be treated as a systemic process-safety issue, as it can be a significant and invisible source of inefficiency. This article describes the principles required to create HAZOP records that can stand on their own over time…
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…
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…
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…
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…
The Role of Flowability in Powder and Bulk-Solids Safety
Flow behavior of solid materials can have a significant impact on safety. These case studies illustrate how a better understanding of flow behavior can reduce safety risks At least 75% of chemical process and manufacturing operations involve bulk solids in…
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…
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…
Show Preview: Interphex
Interphex is scheduled for April 21–23 at the Jacob Javits Convention Center in New York City. Centered on biotechnology and pharmaceutical manufacturing, the event will include a large exhibition hall, as well as a technical sessions covering topics such as…