Chemical Engineering News - SciTechDaily

Scientists Create Membrane That Cleans Water at Record Speed

New York University — Thu, 15 Aug 2024 07:20:54 +0000

New method greatly improves the speed and efficiency of membrane production, presenting promising solutions for addressing water purification issues. A team of NYU Abu Dhabi (NYUAD) researchers has developed a novel approach that utilizes microwave technology to more easily synthesize and fine-tune a new type of membrane which effectively purifies water from a wide range [...]

Can PrISMa Save Our Planet? Inside the New Carbon Capture Phenomenon

Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne — Thu, 15 Aug 2024 00:24:39 +0000

PrISMa revolutionizes the field of carbon capture by combining insights from materials science, engineering, and economic analysis to predict the effectiveness of new technologies. This innovative platform not only enhances the development of carbon capture solutions but also ensures their sustainability and economic viability, effectively closing the gap between laboratory research and practical implementation. Mitigating [...]

This Platform Could Change Carbon Capture Forever: PrISMa Overcomes the “Valley of Death”

Heriot-Watt University — Sat, 10 Aug 2024 12:27:28 +0000

Scientists have introduced PrISMa, a groundbreaking platform integrating advanced simulations and machine learning to accelerate the discovery and implementation of carbon capture materials. This platform evaluates potential materials through a comprehensive process involving quantum chemistry and life-cycle assessment, proving effective in global case studies and cutting costs significantly in industries like cement manufacturing. A major [...]

Superheated Flow Chemistry: A Leap Forward in Organic Synthesis

University of Liège — Tue, 06 Aug 2024 20:10:33 +0000

Researchers from the University of Liège have released a guide to help better understand and utilize the new reaction space associated with superheated conditions. Micro/mesofluidic technologies from the University of Liège are transforming chemical synthesis by enabling faster and more efficient reactions. Despite challenges with longer reaction times, innovations like superheated flow technology offer solutions [...]

Leveraging “Atomic Intelligence” – Researchers Propose Innovative New Method To Drastically Reduce Industrial Emissions

University of Sydney — Sun, 28 Jul 2024 11:22:07 +0000

Researchers suggest methods to reduce increasing industrial emissions, enhancing the sustainability of everyday product manufacturing. Researchers at the University of Sydney have proposed a novel method to reduce industrial emissions. Their approach leverages the “atomic intelligence” of liquid metals to facilitate greener and more sustainable chemical reactions. Despite global efforts towards renewable energy and electrification, [...]

100% Breakdown: Revolutionary New Method Uses Light To Clean Up Forever Chemicals

Ritsumeikan University — Sat, 27 Jul 2024 18:51:17 +0000

The room-temperature defluorination technique presents a promising approach for handling perfluoroalkyl substances. Perfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs), commonly known as ‘forever chemicals,’ represent an increasing risk to both the environment and public health. Developed initially for Teflon in 1938, PFASs and related perfluorinated polymers (PFs) have found widespread use due to their remarkable stability and resistance to [...]

Two-Step Secret: Scientists Solve Electrochemical Biotechnology Mystery

University of Washington — Mon, 22 Jul 2024 16:17:51 +0000

New research has revealed that the lag observed in organic electrochemical transistors (OECTs) when switched on is due to a two-step activation process, providing crucial insights for designing more effective and customizable OECTs for various technological and biological applications. Researchers who want to bridge the divide between biology and technology spend a lot of time [...]

Identify Unknown Substances Instantly: Pocket-Sized Invention Revolutionizes Ability To Detect Harmful Materials

Katie Satterlee, Texas A&M University — Sat, 20 Jul 2024 19:19:31 +0000

The affordable, cellphone-based Raman spectrometer system can identify unknown biological molecules in just minutes. A new handheld Raman spectrometer system, patented by Dr. Peter Rentzepis at Texas A&M University, allows for the non-invasive identification of harmful chemicals and materials using a combination of a cellphone camera and laser technology. This device, which is significantly cheaper [...]

“This Had Never Been Done Before” – New Dual-Use Catalyst Overcomes the Thermodynamic Canyon

Ruhr-University Bochum — Sat, 20 Jul 2024 08:23:19 +0000

German researchers have created a catalyst that converts ammonia into hydrogen and nitrite, potentially combining hydrogen production and fertilizer creation in one process. A research team from the University Alliance Ruhr in Germany has discovered a catalyst capable of converting ammonia into both hydrogen, an energy carrier, and nitrite, a precursor for fertilizer. Traditionally, the [...]

Hard Yet Stretchable: Scientists Create “Unbreakable” New Material

North Carolina State University — Thu, 20 Jun 2024 21:32:24 +0000

Researchers have developed a new class of materials known as glassy gels, which combine the hardness of glassy polymers with the stretchability of gels. These materials maintain over 50% liquid content, enhancing their elasticity and adhesive properties. The fabrication process involves mixing polymer precursors with an ionic liquid and curing with ultraviolet light, allowing for [...]

A Sustainable Solution to Fighting Global Warming – New Catalyst Efficiently Converts CO2 to Natural Gas

Daegu Gyeongbuk Institute of Science and Technology) — Sun, 09 Jun 2024 23:39:53 +0000

A research team at DGIST has developed an advanced photocatalyst that efficiently converts CO2 into methane, potentially offering a sustainable solution to combat global warming. Professor In Soo-il and his team from the Department of Energy Science & Engineering at DGIST have successfully developed a highly efficient photocatalyst. This innovation is capable of converting carbon [...]

Breakthrough in CO2 Conversion: Cost-Effective Methods Discovered

Doshisha University — Sun, 09 Jun 2024 09:31:25 +0000

Researchers found that using ionic liquids as electrolytes with metal hydroxides enhances the electrochemical transformation of CO2 into hydrocarbons. Electrochemical conversion of CO2 into fuel and chemicals, powered by electricity, offers a viable method for reducing emissions. This technique enables the transformation of carbon captured from industrial outputs and the atmosphere into valuable resources traditionally [...]

“Transformative” New Solar Technology Converts Manure Into Hydrogen Fuel

University of Illinois Chicago — Tue, 04 Jun 2024 12:39:32 +0000

UIC engineers have introduced a groundbreaking method for producing hydrogen gas using solar power and agricultural waste, drastically reducing energy consumption and enabling net-zero greenhouse emissions. Engineers from the University of Illinois Chicago have developed a novel method to produce hydrogen gas from water using solely solar power and agricultural byproducts like manure and husks. [...]

Carbon Capture “Miracle Material” Breakthrough: MOF-525 Can Capture and Convert CO2 Into Useful Chemicals

Sun, 02 Jun 2024 10:43:17 +0000

Researchers at the University of Virginia have developed a scalable method for fabricating MOF-525, a material that can effectively capture and convert carbon dioxide into useful chemicals. This breakthrough offers a practical solution for large-scale applications in carbon capture and conversion, presenting significant environmental and energy benefits. Scientists have figured out how to take a [...]

Rewriting the Rules of Power: Korean Researchers Develop Revolutionary New Lightweight Structure for Lithium Batteries

Pohang University of Science & Technology (POSTECH) — Fri, 31 May 2024 22:49:36 +0000

A new three-dimensional polymeric structure developed by POSTECH and KIER researchers significantly enhances lithium ion transport and battery performance, showing great promise for future commercialization. Just as road signs guide travelers with directions and distances to prevent them from losing their way, “signposts” in certain contexts offer similar guidance. Recently, in the field of chemistry, [...]

“Unprecedented Discovery” – New Low-Cost Catalyst Converts Carbon Dioxide to Valuable Chemicals

Argonne National Laboratory — Thu, 23 May 2024 08:29:51 +0000

A low-cost, tin-based catalyst can selectively convert carbon dioxide to three widely produced chemicals — ethanol, acetic acid, and formic acid. Lurking within the emissions from many industrial operations is an untapped resource — carbon dioxide (CO2). A contributor of greenhouse gas and global warming, it could instead be captured and converted to value-added chemicals. [...]

New Solar Technology Converts Greenhouse Gases Into Valuable Fuel

Science China Press — Sat, 18 May 2024 08:12:22 +0000

A new photocatalyst developed by Shanghai Jiao Tong University offers a green, efficient method for converting greenhouse gases into chemicals using solar power, marking a significant advancement in sustainable chemical production. The novel photocatalyst, named Rh/InGaN1-xOx, is a nanoarchitecture consisting of rhodium nanoparticles anchored on oxygen-modified indium gallium nitride nanowires grown on silicon substrates. Under [...]

MIT Unveils Game-Changing Sensor for Toxic Gas Detection

David L. Chandler, Massachusetts Institute of Technology — Fri, 17 May 2024 07:06:21 +0000

A breakthrough in gas detection technology at MIT combines high sensitivity and continuous monitoring. The material could be made as a thin coating to analyze air quality in industrial or home settings. Most systems designed to detect toxic gases in industrial or domestic environments are limited to single or minimal uses. Researchers at MIT, however, [...]

Bionanomachine Breakthrough: A Master Key for Sustainable Chemistry

Brigitte Osterath, Paul Scherrer Institute — Tue, 14 May 2024 09:00:41 +0000

For the first time, scientists have precisely characterized the enzyme styrene oxide isomerase, which can be used to produce valuable chemicals and drug precursors in an environmentally friendly manner. The study appears today in the journal Nature Chemistry. Enzymes are powerful biomolecules that can be used to produce many substances at ambient conditions. They enable [...]

ChemCrow: The Next Frontier in AI-Driven Chemical Synthesis

EPFL — Wed, 08 May 2024 09:00:53 +0000

ChemCrow, an AI developed by researchers at EPFL, integrates multiple expert tools to perform chemical research tasks with unprecedented efficiency. Chemistry, with its intricate processes and vast potential for innovation, has always been a challenge for automation. Traditional computational tools, despite their advanced capabilities, often remain underutilized due to their complexity and the specialized knowledge [...]

At the Edge of Explosion: How New Science Is Making Old Reactions Safer

Max Planck Institute for Coal Research — Sun, 05 May 2024 21:33:27 +0000

The chemical industry has been using a reaction with explosive chemicals for over 100 years — now Mülheim scientists have discovered a safer alternative. Explosions and poisoning. Serious injuries and even deaths. In the history of the chemical industry, there have been repeated accidents, sometimes fatal, often caused by dangerous and explosive chemicals that are [...]

Engineering Life: Chemists Have Created the Functional Synthetic Cells That Act Like Real Ones

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill — Sat, 04 May 2024 01:10:45 +0000

Researchers employ cutting-edge methods to create functional cells, closing the divide between synthetic and biological materials. In a new study published in Nature Chemistry, UNC-Chapel Hill researcher Ronit Freeman and her colleagues describe the steps they took to manipulate DNA and proteins — essential building blocks of life — to create cells that look and [...]

Extracting Pure Gold: Turning Electronic Waste Into Treasure

National Research Council of Science & Technology — Tue, 23 Apr 2024 11:35:39 +0000

A fibrous adsorbent selectively recovers high-purity gold from waste. Dramatically reduces the cost and time of the recovery process and enables material to be mass-produced and repeatedly recycled. Korea relies on imports for most of its metal resources, and in recent years, due to resource depletion and rising raw material prices, ‘circular resources’ that recycle [...]

From Lab Curiosity to Industrial Reality: The New Dawn of Transition Metal Telluride Nanosheets

Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics, Chinese Academy Sciences — Sun, 14 Apr 2024 11:19:12 +0000

Nanosheets made from transition metal tellurides have demonstrated significant potential for basic research and applications in various fields, yet until recently, their large-scale production has been unattainable, relegating them to the status of a mere laboratory novelty rather than a practical industrial material. But a team of researchers has recently developed a novel fabrication technique—the [...]