Latest News
New plasma-powered process directly converts methane to graphene oxide
Researchers at Texas A&M University (College Station; www.tamu.edu) have developed a fundamentally new route to graphene oxide (GO) synthesis using non-thermal atmospheric plasma — a method that sidesteps the toxic chemicals and scalability limitations that often constrain conventional production approaches.…
Low-voltage, membrane-free electrolysis produces hydrogen and FDCA
A new approach to the traditional alkaline electrolyzers used to produce “green” hydrogen from water eliminates the membrane and introduces a new reaction mechanism at the anode, enabling the production of a high-value plastic precursor, 2,5-furandicarboxylic acid (FDCA). Developed at…
Innovating Inspection: Advanced Nondestructive Testing in Hydrocarbon Plants
Nondestructive testing (NDT) can play a key role in ensuring safety at petrochemical and related plants. Provided here is an overview of available technologies for NDT, including capabilities and limitations, as well as training standards Inspection and maintenance of petroleum…
Sorbent-based ammonia-production system lowers cost and allows modularity
World-scale ammonia-production plants based on the Haber-Bosch process supply the ammonia for most of today’s agricultural fertilizer industry. But building new capacity for ammonia production is economically difficult because of the high capital expenditures needed for plants large enough to…
Mobile Rounds, Real-Time Results: Kaneka Brings Operator Rounds into the Digital Age
At Kaneka North America, replacing paper procedures and reports with guided digital workflows for operator rounds streamlined knowledge-sharing and improved process consistency Kaneka North America LLC, a division of Kaneka Corp. (Osaka, Japan; www.kaneka.com), manufactures specialty chemicals and advanced polymer…
Business News: October 2026
Plant Watch Evonik breaks ground on €80-million biotechnology expansion in Slovakia September 14, 2026 — Evonik Industries AG (Essen, Germany; www.evonik.com) has broken ground on a new biotechnology expansion project at its Fermas site in Slovakia, part of the €80-million…
Offtake agreement inked for system that produces methanol from stranded methane economically
In late August, technology developer Emvolon, a spinout company from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT; Cambridge, Mass.; www.mit.edu), signed an offtake agreement with Freepoint Commodities LLC (www.freepoint.com) for methanol produced commercially via Emvolon’s technology starting in spring 2027. The…
Toray Industries develops first solvent-based recycling technology for recovering PPS from waste
Toray Industries, Inc. (Tokyo, Japan; www.toray.com) announced that it has developed what it believes is the industry’s first solvent-based recycling technology to recover polyphenylene sulfide (PPS) from waste materials. The technology selectively dissolves and separates PPS from the materials while…
Air Liquide invests 170 million euros to supply ultra-high-purity gases to semiconductor manufacturer in Japan
Air Liquide (Paris, France; www.airliquide.com) today announced a new investment of more than 170 million euros to supply ultra-high purity gases to a leading semiconductor manufacturer in Japan. Under a long-term agreement, the Group will support the expansion of its…
Westlake to close PVC plant in Cologne, Germany
Westlake Corp. (Houston, Texas; www.westlake.com) announced today that, in light of challenging market conditions, the Company is taking action to improve profitability by closing its polyvinyl chloride (PVC) plant in Cologne, Germany. Chemical production in Europe continues to face difficult conditions, including…