Articles tagged with Chemical Engineering
The Beckman Institute has received a $3.6 million NSF grant to acquire an automated system for designing and analyzing polymers. The system will accelerate the discovery of useful materials, especially in combination with artificial intelligence.
Researchers have genetically engineered Vibrio natriegens to produce enzymes that can break down polyethylene terephthalate (PET) in salt water. This breakthrough addresses the challenge of removing plastics from oceans and could lead to more sustainable solutions.
A team of researchers has made breakthroughs in harnessing low-grade heat sources for efficient energy conversion. They developed a highly efficient Thermally Regenerative Electrochemical Cycle (TREC) system that converts small temperature differences into usable energy.
Researchers create process to recycle polypropylene, polyethylene and polystyrene plastics into chemical ingredients useful for energy storage. The new method uses LEDs and a catalyst, reducing greenhouse emissions compared to traditional recycling processes.
A team from the University of Pittsburgh Swanson School of Engineering has developed a computational model that accurately predicts electrochemical conditions when hydrogen is inserted into different metal oxides. This breakthrough enables researchers to test and validate materials safely and effectively at lower costs.
Researchers at Pohang University of Science & Technology developed world-class perovskite transistors by combining three distinct perovskite cations, achieving high hole mobility and on/off current ratio. This breakthrough enables faster computing with lower power consumption.
Researchers at EPFL engineered E. coli bacteria to exhibit enhanced extracellular electron transfer, producing electricity while metabolizing organic substrates. The bioengineered E. coli surpassed previous approaches, generating three times more electrical current in various environments, including wastewater from a brewery.
Chung-Ang University researchers create an electrochemical DNA biosensor that detects HPV-16 and HPV-18 with high specificity, facilitating early diagnosis of cervical cancer. The sensor uses a graphitic nano-onion/MoS2 nanosheet composite to enhance conductivity.
Researchers have created a highly efficient and stable photoelectrode for water splitting using organic semiconductors. The new design overcomes the limitations of traditional inorganic semiconductor-based photoelectrodes, resulting in enhanced hydrogen production efficiency.
Researchers have developed a sustainable solution to clean contaminated water using 3D-printed 'living material' containing genetically engineered bacteria that produce an enzyme to transform organic pollutants. The material's surface area and geometry optimize bacterial growth and decontamination efficiency.
A study published in Nature Geoscience found that blowing snow produces fine sea salt aerosols, increasing particle concentration and cloud formation in the central Arctic. These aerosols contribute to Arctic warming by trapping surface long-wave radiation, boosting temperatures.
Researchers at Tokyo Institute of Technology have discovered a new strategy to stabilize the α-phase of α-FAPbI3, a promising solar cell material. By introducing pseudo-halide ions like thiocyanate into its structure, the team has successfully stabilized the α-phase, reducing its transition temperature and increasing its energy band gap.
Researchers at Pohang University of Science & Technology have developed a sensor technology called computer vision-based optical strain (CVOS) that enhances durability and streamlines fabrication processes. This breakthrough enables the precise recognition of intricate bodily motions through a single sensor.
A team of researchers from Waseda University successfully generated electricity directly from methylcyclohexane using solid oxide fuel cells, with a production ratio of toluene to benzene at 94:6. The process generates electricity without dehydrogenation facilities and uses less energy than conventional methods.
A team of researchers from Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics has developed a microbial platform for efficient lignocellulose bio-refinery in yeast. The system can produce valuable chemicals like fatty acids and 3-hydroxypropionic acid, overcoming limitations in xylose assimilation and glucose repression.
A paper published in Nature Energy reveals a promising breakthrough in green energy: an electrolyzer device capable of converting carbon dioxide into propane. The device, developed by Illinois Tech assistant professor Mohammad Asadi, is scalable and economically viable.
Printable electronics have potential in solar power and LED screens but face challenges in scalable manufacturing. Professor Adam Printz is using a new RAPID printing process to examine fundamental characteristics and advance the field.
A new study from the University of Colorado at Boulder has developed an economical approach for producing green hydrogen, a precursor to liquid fuels. The method uses heat generated by solar rays to split molecules of water and carbon dioxide into hydrogen and carbon monoxide, which can be converted into fuels like gasoline and diesel.
A new technique converts kale waste into phytochemicals for use in health and personal care products, preserving potency and using non-toxic solvents. The method reduces energy consumption and emissions, making it attractive for industry adoption and supporting a circular economy.
Researchers successfully recreated and mathematically validated two molecular languages at the origin of life, opening doors for nanotechnology development. They designed a programmable antibody sensor using multivalency, which detects antibodies over different concentration ranges.
Researchers at Worcester Polytechnic Institute discovered a new redox chemistry empowered by chloride ions for the development of seawater green batteries. This technology leverages abundant elements such as iron oxides and hydroxides, potentially repurposing iron rust waste materials for modern energy storage.
Scientists studied fluid dynamics to understand interfacial tension, a force affecting mixing of liquids. Their numerical simulation revealed a non-monotonic relationship between flow strength and hydrodynamic instability, overturning conventional wisdom.
A new recycling method reduces emissions by 60% and opens the door to reusing materials like plastic film, multilayer materials, and colored plastics. The technique recovers olefins from pyrolysis oil and uses them in a chemical process to convert into aldehydes and industrial alcohols.
The newly expanded NSF Center for the Mechanical Control of Chemistry will investigate atomic-scale mysteries of crushing chemistry, enabling new advances in chemistry. The center will provide insights necessary for scaling up mechanical chemistry research across the US.
A £1.75m project led by Professor Chenyu Du aims to develop new processes for recovering polyester and cellulose from mixed cotton and polyester fibres. The goal is to create a roadmap towards net-zero for the textiles industry, reducing plastic waste and increasing recycling rates.
Researchers at Washington University in St. Louis discovered that wildfires emit dark brown carbon, a potent climate-warming particle that absorbs solar radiation. This finding has broad implications for climate models and highlights the need to revise existing approaches to account for the unexpected effects of brown carbon.
Engineers have developed a new membrane that separates chemicals from wastewater, allowing for reuse and extraction of valuable by-products. The membrane's unique properties, inspired by mussels, can separate salts and other chemical components with unprecedented efficiency.
Researchers from Aarhus University have developed a simple chemistry method to recycle polyurethane foam from old mattresses, extracting its main components and reusing them as raw materials. The process has been repeated several times, replacing up to 64% of the mattress without impairing quality.
Researchers at the University of Pittsburgh have developed a system that uses fluid mechanics and chemo-mechanical processes to autonomously assemble hierarchical 3D structures. The system utilizes sticky bonds to drive self-organization, allowing for the construction of complex devices with minimal external intervention.
A novel Raman technique called thermostable-Raman-interaction-profiling (TRIP) allows for label-free and highly reproducible Raman spectroscopy measurements, breaking a 50-year-old challenge. The TRIP method enables the detection of protein-ligand interactions in real-time, potentially shortening drug and vaccine testing timelines.
Researchers from Tokyo Institute of Technology have successfully synthesized high-purity SrVO2.4H0.6 and Sr3V2O62H0.8 perovskite oxyhydrides using a novel high-pressure flux method, opening up new possibilities for catalysts and lithium-ion battery electrodes.
Researchers at the University of Missouri have developed a new type of nanoclay material that can be customized to perform specific tasks. This breakthrough could lead to advances in fields such as medical science, environmental science, and more.
Rice University engineers have created a device that converts sunlight into hydrogen with unprecedented efficiency, opening up new possibilities for clean energy and sustainable fuel production. The innovative technology uses halide perovskite semiconductors and electrocatalysts in a single, durable device.
A new biodegradable film was developed by Brazilian researchers using a derivative of limonene and chitosan to improve the preservation of food quality. The film outperformed those with limonene alone, exhibiting enhanced antioxidant activity and stability.
Researchers at MIT are developing a continuous mRNA manufacturing platform to improve vaccine development and production. The pilot-scale system aims to reduce costs, increase efficiency, and facilitate collaboration in the biopharmaceutical industry.
A team of researchers from the University of Arizona is launching a $7 million consortium to improve water security and water reuse methods in the arid southwestern United States. The project aims to advance water treatment technologies and make systems more efficient, driving sustainable practices.
A research team at POSTECH successfully demonstrated the existence of bound states in the continuum using an acoustoelastic coupling structure. The phenomenon enables the confinement of elastic waves, similar to light particles, facilitating applications such as vibration focusing and energy harvesting.
Researchers at RIKEN CEMS have discovered a perovskite compound that can safely store corrosive ammonia gas as a nitrogen compound, allowing for efficient storage and retrieval of hydrogen. The process is much cheaper than traditional methods and can be repeated multiple times.
Researchers from Japan and Germany have created an eco-friendly light-emitting electrochemical cell using dendrimers combined with biomass-derived cellulose acetate as the electrolyte and a graphene electrode. The device has a long lifespan of over 1000 hours and is environmentally friendly.
A new technique allows for the precise growth and placement of halide perovskite nanocrystals, enabling the creation of functional nanoscale devices such as nanoLEDs. This breakthrough could lead to applications in optical communication, computing, and display technology.
Researchers successfully synthesized isotopic atropisomers based on carbon isotope discrimination, exhibiting high rotational stability and stereochemical purity. The findings hold promise for fundamental understanding of isotopic atropisomers with implications in organic and medicinal chemistry.
A new catalyst developed by Politecnico di Milano increases esterification reaction efficiency while minimizing environmental harm. The discovery reduces reliance on finite resources and eliminates the need for energy-intensive activation methods.
A novel hydrogel has been developed to induce endometrial regeneration and elucidate its mechanism, offering new hope for patients struggling with infertility. The gel, made from uterus-derived decellularized extracellular matrix, successfully regenerated the endometrium in mice, creating a favorable environment for embryo implantation.
Researchers have developed a new material for single-molecule electronic switches, which can vary current at the nanoscale in response to external stimuli. The ladder-type molecular structure enhances stability and makes it promising for use in single-molecule electronics applications.
University of Missouri researchers developed a method using thermal induction heating to rapidly break down PFAS on the surface of granular activated carbon and anion exchange resins. The process achieved 98% degradation in just 20 seconds, offering a highly energy-efficient alternative to conventional methods.
A recent study published in Science of the Total Environment found a scarcity of studies on microbial and chemical drinking water contamination in Appalachia and associated health outcomes. Only 85 publications met the criteria, with many gaps remaining to be filled.
The WVU Pollution Prevention Program provides customized source reduction solutions, training, and digital technologies to minimize waste. The program aims to help businesses achieve carbon neutrality through data-driven modeling and AI-powered adjustments.
A pioneering device captures single proteins stochastically, detecting them digitally at high concentrations. This breakthrough could lay the foundation for personalized disease prevention and treatment.
Researchers at Vanderbilt University have developed a novel brine treatment technology called electrodialytic crystallization that reduces energy consumption and cost of brine crystallization. The technology uses an electric field to induce salt crystallization without using costly evaporation methods.
The team's innovative design uses bank-tube-inspired modules to capture CO2 with sufficient purity for underground sequestration. By eliminating steam-based heating and using ambient wind flow, the system boosts efficiency and reduces upfront costs.
Researchers developed a new anode material that increases lithium-ion battery storage capacity by 1.5 times, allowing for fast charging in as little as six minutes. The innovation uses electron spin to enhance storage capacity and ferromagnetic properties.
Researchers have developed a meta-holographic display that generates holograms in both the visible and ultraviolet spectral regions. The breakthrough overcomes previous limitations and enables applications in security technologies such as anti-counterfeiting measures.
Researchers at the University of Pennsylvania School of Engineering and Applied Science have developed a new therapy that uses engineered macrophages to eliminate solid tumors. The treatment works by silencing a molecular pathway that prevents white blood cells from attacking cancer cells, allowing them to recognize and destroy tumoroids.
A team of researchers from China and the UK has developed new ways to optimise the production of solar fuels by creating novel photocatalysts. These photocatalysts, such as titanium dioxide with boron nitride, can absorb more wavelengths of light and produce more hydrogen compared to traditional methods.
Researchers at Pohang University of Science & Technology (POSTECH) developed a technology for high-performance organic polymer semiconductors that exhibit both stretchability and electrical functionality. The molecular brake prevents slipping under stretching conditions, preserving up to 96% of electrical performance.
Scientists have developed a novel mechanochemistry method that can manufacture chemicals without toxic solvent waste, reducing energy consumption and pollution. The technique uses organic chemistry and nanotechnology to push molecules together and create chemicals.
Researchers from GIST have developed a hydrotropic-supporting electrolyte to enhance the solubility of organic redox molecules in aqueous systems. This improvement enables the creation of high-energy-density electrochemical capacitors with potential applications in redox flow batteries.
A new catalyst converts methane into formaldehyde using sunlight, achieving nearly 100% selectivity and high conversion efficiency. The synergy of copper and tungsten atomic species enhances the overall efficiency and selectivity of the process.
Perovskite photovoltaics are promising for generating solar energy due to their ability to be printed like newspapers and require less material than traditional technologies. However, these materials exhibit instabilities that can cause them to degrade quickly, hindering their commercial viability.
Researchers used AI to identify a compound that kills Acinetobacter baumannii, a bacterium responsible for many drug-resistant infections. The new antibiotic shows promise in combating this growing public health threat.