Latest News
Downcomer Backup Flooding: In Search of the Truth
Correctly identifying flood mechanisms that limit throughput in a distillation column is central to maximizing capacity and debottlenecking. Guidelines for diagnosing the mechanism are described in Ref. 1. This column recounts a case of downcomer backup flooding. Backup from frothy…
A sulfur-based substitute for bitumen as a binder in road asphalt
Demand for bitumen as a binding agent for road asphalt is growing, but supplies are not expected to keep pace. Startup company Uberbinder (Liverpool, U.K.; www.uberbinder.com) has developed a manufacturing platform to tackle this challenge with an alternative solution: a…
The Scale-up Gap in Bio-based Materials
Successful pilot operations are a necessary first step, but for bio-based processes, getting a product plant-ready requires navigating the gap between research environments and industrial plant settings A successful pilot batch has a way of changing the mood in a…
Business News: November 2026
Plant Watch MOL Group opens first biomethane plant in Szarvas, Hungary October 14, 2026 — MOL Group Plc. (Budapest, Hungary; molgroup.info) inaugurated its first biomethane plant in Szarvas, Hungary. As a result of the investment of more than HUF 2.7…
Solvent-based technology recovers PPS from waste materials
Polyphenylene sulfide (PPS) is a high-performance thermoplastic with excellent mechanical and thermal properties commonly used in automotive glass-fiber-reinforced components and materials. Recycling waste PPS is challenging because separating impurities is difficult, and conventional mechanical recycling can lead to polymer degradation.…
Upcycled steel byproduct sequesters phosphorus and sulfur in wastewater digesters
To inhibit fouling and H2S formation, chemicals like ferric chloride, ferric sulfate and aluminum sulfate are often used to reduce the concentration of phosphorus and sulfur in digesters at wastewater treatment facilities. While effective at isolating sulfides and phosphates, these…
Show Preview: Valve World
The entire spectrum of industrial valves will be covered by Valve World Expo (www.valveworldexpo.com) in Düsseldorf, Germany, December 1–3, 2026. Over 570 exhibitors from 31 countries will present a wide range of products, including valves and auxiliary parts, actuator drives…
Epoxy-based composite demonstrated as a fixative for radioactively contaminated surfaces
Decommissioning nuclear sites is a complex technical and environmental challenge. A recent project undertaken by Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL; Richland, Wash.; www.pnnl.gov) has demonstrated a method for immobilizing radioactive contaminants on surfaces. The approach would reduce the spread of…
Facts At Your Fingertips: Key Considerations for Control-Valve Specification
Control valves ensure safe and efficient operation of process plants by regulating the fluid flow in connected pipes. This one-page reference outlines key considerations for specifying control valves during the design phase of a plant. Valve sizing. The size of…
Rio Tinto opens $1.4-billion lithium projects in Argentina
Rio Tinto plc (London, U.K.) announced a major milestone for Argentina’s lithium industry, marking the official opening of Rio Tinto’s Fénix 1B expansion and Sal de Vida operation in Catamarca following a combined investment of around $1.4 billion. Both projects…