Articles tagged with Chemical Engineering
The American Chemical Society highlights the achievements of Black scientists in chemistry and chemical engineering, including drug discovery, biomedical engineering, and sustainable energy. The special issue showcases their work and calls for greater recognition and inclusion in the science enterprise.
Prof. Thomas H. Epps, III has been elected to the AIMBE College of Fellows for outstanding contributions to self-assembly of polymeric materials for drug delivery and gene therapy applications. He will join a group of top medical and biological engineers in the US.
Liheng Cai's lab creates a new synthetic rubber that is 1,000 times softer than conventional rubber but still holds its shape. The material has superior mechanical properties and can be used for various applications, including medical implants and soft robots.
The Biden-Harris administration aims to create research and development opportunities in clean energy and switch the US to cleaner sources. Climate change policies and updates to regulations will also be prioritized to protect public health from toxic substances. Immigration reform may lead to more scientific collaboration and access f...
Researchers at Tokyo Institute of Technology produced and characterized novel organic molecules with a long helical structure, revealing special interactions between coils that can exhibit interesting optical and chemical properties. The longer compounds also displayed face-to-face stabilizing interactions between different helical lay...
A team of researchers from the University of Minnesota has made a groundbreaking discovery in materials science by observing metallic lines in a perovskite crystal. The study, published in Science Advances, reveals new possibilities for creating transparent conductive materials that could be used in touchscreens and smart windows.
The novel coronavirus was a major focus of chemistry research in 2020, with thousands of papers published on mask efficacy, disinfectants and virus transmission. Other notable topics included new insights into planetary atmospheres and the impact of climate change on wildfires.
Desalination membranes' density distribution at the nanoscale is crucial for performance. Thinner membranes with consistent density improve water filtration, contrary to previous thought that thickness matters more. This breakthrough could lead to 30-40% efficiency increase and cost savings.
Pittsburgh engineers build a two-dimensional sheet that spontaneously transforms into a three-dimensional gear, performing sustained work without external power. The innovation enables the development of self-powered machines for resource-poor environments.
ModMol is an augmented reality app that allows users to visualize and edit molecules in 3D. The app currently supports 115 molecules, including organic and inorganic systems, biomolecules, polymers, and proteins. It enables users to customize molecules using the period table and standard fragments, and save edited structures for export.
Dr. Eric Beckman, a renowned engineer at the University of Pittsburgh, has been recognized as an NAI Fellow for his groundbreaking research in molecular design, biomedical polymers, and sustainability. His work aims to create new knowledge that benefits human health and the environment.
Scientists at the University of Nottingham have developed a new method to produce chemical molecules more efficiently through a one-step reaction in an enzyme. This breakthrough has significant implications for the production of pharmaceuticals, with potential applications in the development of new drugs.
The American Chemical Society has unveiled its annual list of 10 promising chemistry start-ups, focusing on innovative solutions for drug discovery, waste recycling, sustainable materials, and quantum computing. Companies like Aryballe and Evrnu are developing groundbreaking technologies to address pressing global challenges.
Michigan Technological University and University of Massachusetts researchers develop a way to mimic the body's environment in vaccines, keeping viruses stable through crowding. This method has potential to improve access to vaccinations against various viruses, bypassing the cold chain.
Engineers at Monash University developed a portable and cheap diagnostic that measures fibrinogen concentration in blood. This simple test can diagnose hypofibrinogenemia in critically bleeding patients anywhere in the world, reducing treatment time by up to five times.
Two Pitt projects have received more than $1 million in NSF funding, one investigating the water wettability of floating graphene and the other developing high-performance materials for liquid-phase energy storage systems.
HBCUs graduate more successful Black chemists than other schools due to their supportive faculty, rigorous curriculum, and diverse environment. However, HBCUs face limitations in funding and faculty burden, which can impact publication and collaboration.
The University of Illinois will lead two of seven new national artificial intelligence institutes, one focusing on agricultural resilience and the other on molecular discovery. The institutes aim to advance AI research in computer vision, machine learning, and automation to address major agricultural challenges.
Researchers developed finned nanoporous materials that facilitate faster molecular transport, reducing transportation limitations in zeolite catalysts. The new design triples the efficiency of conventional catalytic materials and enables longer catalyst lifetimes.
A global research team has developed a new adsorbent-based desalination process that uses sunlight to regenerate metal-organic frameworks (MOFs), producing clean drinking water in under 30 minutes. The technology filters harmful particles and achieves a TDS of <500 ppm, making it suitable for millions of people globally.
A research team at NYU Tandon School of Engineering has developed a novel approach to fabricating MXene films that can effectively block electromagnetic interference. The drop-casting method on pre-patterned hydrophobic substrates resulted in a 38% enhancement of EMI shielding efficiency over conventional methods, making it scalable an...
Sachin Velankar receives $292K from NSF to study micromechanics of surface tension, exploring its impact on material flow behavior. The research aims to understand particle cluster dynamics and inform industrial processes like oil drilling, 3D printing, and food industry mixing.
The American Chemical Society names BASF the number one chemical company for 2019, followed by Sinopec and Dow/DuPont, in its annual Global Top 50 list. The report shows a decline in earnings due to trade tensions and poor automotive performance.
Researchers created an inexpensive smart stir bar that can automatically measure and transmit data on a solution's properties to a smartphone or computer. This device uses open-source software and low-cost components to detect parameters such as color, electrical conductivity, and viscosity.
A surface coating developed by Virginia Tech professor William Ducker has been shown to inactivate SARS-CoV-2, the virus causing COVID-19, by 99.9% in one hour when applied to glass or stainless steel surfaces.
Biobased chemicals are being developed to replace petroleum-based products in various industries, including diapers, electronics, and automotive coatings. These new materials offer improved performance and sustainability, with potential applications in areas such as electronic touchscreen displays and emission-reducing coatings.
The University of Delaware's new Center for Hybrid, Active, and Responsive Materials (UD CHARM) aims to transform the way materials are made. Researchers will focus on developing new materials with potential applications in biomedicine, security, sensing, and more.
A new 3D-printed membrane designed by Pitt ChemE professor Lei Li has the potential to efficiently separate oil and water. The membrane's unique surface topography and pore size will enable effective separation of oil-water emulsions, converting oily wastewater into purified water.
Researchers at CNRS and Delft University of Technology have developed acoustical tweezers to control microbubbles, enabling highly localized drug delivery. This breakthrough opens up new possibilities for controlled medicine delivery and tissue engineering using stem cells.
A new study from the University of Pittsburgh and Politecnico di Milano advances computational catalysis by simulating realistic catalysts under reaction conditions. The researchers developed a method to model catalyst morphology and catalytic activity under reaction conditions, enabling the prediction of unpredictable reactions.
Jonas Baltrusaitis is investigating dry mechanochemical synthesis of urea ionic cocrystals for more stable fertilizer materials. This technology aims to slow down urea hydrolysis, reduce ammonia emissions and extend nitrogen availability to plants.
Researchers at KAIST developed a universal virus detection platform using reactive polymer-grafted double-stranded RNAs, which can detect viruses without prior knowledge of their genomic sequences. This platform provides enhanced sensitivity and can be used to quickly differentiate infected populations from non-infected ones.
A novel technology that simulates human kidney functions could transform treatment options for those in the final stage of renal disease. The device, developed by University of Arkansas researchers, can filter blood and control chemistry using an electric field.
A team of MIT researchers has developed ELAST technology, which provides a fast way to fluorescently label cells, proteins, and molecules in brain and other large tissues. The technology enables fully reversible tissue shape transformation while preserving structural and molecular information.
The COVID-19 pandemic is disrupting the chemistry industry, with academic jobs facing hiring freezes and reduced pay. Despite this, certain sectors like pharmaceuticals and biotechnology are experiencing increased demand and hiring opportunities.
A new model for respiratory infection treatment is being developed using mathematical modeling to predict and treat patients at risk of extreme lung inflammation. The University of Pittsburgh's Jason Shoemaker received a $547K NSF CAREER Award to create computational models of the immune response to seasonal influenza viruses.
The University of Texas at Austin researchers aim to find the best mask-disinfectant combinations to reduce exposure to hazardous chemicals. The project uses thermal manikins and mass spectrometers to measure the effects of different disinfectants on masks.
LaShanda Korley, a renowned materials scientist at the University of Delaware, has been elected as a Fellow of the American Institute for Medical and Biological Engineering. Her work focuses on developing bio-inspired materials with applications in healthcare, sensing, and soft robotics.
A joint research team from KIER, KAIST, PNU, NTU developed a high-performance re-attachable sticker-type energy storage device. The new technology features a flexible structure that can be attached anywhere on objects or surfaces using ultrashort-pulse-lasers.
Researchers at Rice University have found that the size of the space trapping petrochemicals is the primary factor behind puzzling NMR signals, leading to better interpretation of logs in unconventional shale formations. The discovery is crucial for extracting oil and gas safely and economically.
Researchers designed a polymer that can twist and bend in response to light, mimicking human muscle movement. The polymer's chiral structure changes direction when exposed to different light sources, enabling simultaneous bending and twisting motions.
Researchers explore alternative materials to improve optical fiber's data transmission capabilities, as telecom demands grow. They discovered fluoride glass can transmit light over a wider range of wavelengths, but it is more expensive and brittle.
The American Chemical Society is celebrating women entrepreneurs in chemistry with a special issue, featuring 20 female pioneers who have founded companies in biotechnology, solar energy, pharmaceuticals, and more. The Trailblazers issue aims to address the gender gap in funding and promote diversity in the entrepreneurial landscape.
Researchers at Penn State developed a new method to predict the temperature when plastics change from supple to brittle, which could accelerate the development of flexible electronics. The study found that a simple relationship between chemical structure and glass transition temperature can be used to predict embrittlement point.
Scientists at Rice University found that low-salinity brine can create emulsion droplets in crude oil, enhancing oil recovery. The research also revealed the wettability of rock determines how easily it releases oil.
Researchers are working on developing drugs that inhibit the function of NLRP3, an inflammatory protein involved in various diseases such as atherosclerosis, cancer, Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, and arthritis. Several NLRP3 inhibitors are currently in preclinical trials with varying mechanisms.
The new approach makes the screening process hundreds of times faster and accelerates solvent retrieval. It can determine a solvent's efficiency in as little as three minutes using image processing, running multiple samples simultaneously.
The five winning researchers are recognized for their diverse accomplishments in engineering, innovation & technology. They will receive a prize of USD $5,000 and an all-expenses-paid trip to attend the AAAS Meeting.
A team of scientists at Monash University has successfully created dynamic covalent oligomers that mimic the combination of complementary DNA strands. This breakthrough could lead to improved nanostructures for solar capture technology and molecular electronics, as well as enhanced interfaces between prostheses and human tissue.
A new open-source computer program called ChemStor can find the safest way to store and dispose of reactive chemicals. The program adapts a computer science strategy to allocate resources for efficient processor use, allowing it to determine safe storage configurations.
The American Chemical Society forecasts a year marked by environmental improvements, such as reducing plastic use and recycling. Regulatory actions are also expected, including updated chemical risk assessments and classification of PFAS as hazardous materials.
James Gilchrist's project uses microrheology to study paint drying processes and develop a testing method to predict performance. The goal is to improve paint formulations, reduce energy consumption and costs in the automotive industry.
Researchers developed a platform to organize nanomaterials of different types into desired 3-D structures using DNA-programmable nanofabrication. The platform can create materials with unique optical, chemical, and other properties at the nanoscale, enabling new applications in fields like display technology and nanomanufacturing.
Modestino's research advances organic electrosynthesis, a mission to drive sustainability in the chemical manufacturing industry. He plans to identify key factors limiting electrochemical reactor performance and derive rules for optimal operation.
Arup K. SenGupta, a renowned expert in water technology, has received the second Fulbright research fellowship to collaborate with Indian Institute of Technology in Guwahati. His work focuses on implementing Hybrid Ion Exchange Nanotechnology (HIX-Nano) to transform wastewater into usable water.
Dr. Jeffrey Rimer's groundbreaking research using crystals has led to the development of new materials and treatments for malaria and kidney stones. His work enables visualization of complex mechanisms, improving catalysis in petrochemical processes.
Pitt researcher Dr. James McKone investigates using renewable electricity as energy source for industrial hydrogenation reactions, which are crucial for producing fuels and fertilizers.
Scientists at Rice University have created a unique nanoscale material called soft double gyroids, which exhibits a maze-like structure. However, their analysis reveals that the material's structure is not perfectly cubic, but rather distorted due to grain boundaries and directional stress.
Artificial neural networks successfully identify minor changes in DNA structure caused by UV radiation, enabling early detection of potential cancer risks. The technique uses surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy and has the potential to be used for medical diagnostics.
Researchers at the University of Waterloo have developed a faster and cheaper method to coat liquid medication, using gravity and natural forces to wrap drops in a protective shell. The new technology enables rapid production of capsules with improved stability and flexibility.