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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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)…
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…
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…
For effective mechanical conveying of bulk solids in the chemical process industries (CPI), equipment should be tailored to the specific needs of the solids-handling application The sheer diversity of bulk-solid materials encountered across the chemical process industries (CPI), including agricultural…
Lubrizol (Cleveland, Ohio; www.lubrizol.com) recently began producing chlorinated polyvinyl chloride (CPVC) resin in commercial reactors equipped with light-emitting diodes (LEDs) as the light source, instead of the conventional mercury lamps. The company’s LED reactor technology enhances the thermal stability of…