Articles tagged with Chemical Engineering
A KAIST research team has developed a new electrode material that sequentially stores zinc ions and protons, enabling high storage capacity and fast charging/discharging performance. The material achieved 368.7 mAh g⁻¹ storage capacity and retained 46.9% of its capacity even at 16-fold increased charging/discharging rates.
Researchers at the University of Surrey have developed a novel polymer that can be heated to 90°C, turning it into a gas, which then spontaneously reforms into the original polymer. This breakthrough could simplify polymer processing and recycling, eliminating complex steps.
Researchers at the University of Illinois have developed a new molecule that can replace traditional chemistry with electricity in metal recovery, reducing chemical consumption by one to two orders of magnitude. The approach simplifies the extraction cycle, making it cleaner and more energy efficient.
A new review article proposes redefining watershed aquatic ecosystem health as a combined social–ecological property. The authors emphasize the need to integrate biological integrity, habitat structure, and governance for anticipatory decision-making and process-oriented governance.
A new study reveals that carefully controlled pore structure and surface chemistry can transform nuisance seaweed into an efficient and reusable CO2 adsorbent. Researchers developed a porous biochar from Sargassum tenerrimum, achieving high CO2 adsorption capacity and rapid uptake.
Researchers found that lab variations can lead to inconsistent data, affecting AI model accuracy and reproducibility. The study highlights the importance of standardization in experimental design to improve data quality for machine learning models.
The KAIST research team has successfully developed a new, eco-friendly hydrogen separation membrane that filters hydrogen through a molecular network. The membrane achieved a high bridge connectivity degree of 73% and showed significant improvements in hydrogen permeability and selectivity.
A multidisciplinary project combines computer modeling, particle science, and pharmaceutical science to create more effective inhalers for people who can't inhale deeply. Researchers found that improved designs can reduce deposition in the mouth and throat, increase penetration of particles into the lungs.
Gennady Gor and his team will explore how petroleum-derived polymers swell and shrink, and the effects of hysteresis on their elasticity. The research aims to improve reliability in models of polymer performance and ensure consistent behavior across various applications.
Researchers discovered that scandium doping and coating improve the durability and performance of sodium-ion batteries by stabilizing the crystal structure and suppressing side reactions. The study found that doping improves bulk stability while coating enhances surface stability, leading to improved capacity retention and long-term cy...
A new AI-powered system developed at the University of Waterloo can predict how modern house fires behave, enabling smarter evacuation routes and safer buildings. The system analyzes complex data from experimental fires using machine-learning algorithms, providing insights into toxic smoke hazards and combustion chemistry.
Advincula, a Governor's Chair Professor at ORNL and University of Tennessee, recognized for research advancing applied chemistry and translating scientific discoveries into practical applications. His work helps strengthen American innovation and industrial competitiveness.
Researchers at Ohio State University have developed a process for converting carbon dioxide and industrial waste into green hydrogen, producing valuable mineral products. The technology reduces energy requirements and creates negative emissions, paving the way for widespread adoption and economic benefits.
Researchers at SKKU create a novel electrode material that suppresses water-splitting reactions and improves energy storage performance. The SA-Pb/NC electrode achieves twice the specific capacitance of conventional electrodes, delivering high power and energy density.
Researchers at Virginia Tech develop process to strip chlorine from PVC and produce synthetic lubricant-based oils. The new method converts discarded PVC into a key lubricant ingredient, offering a potential solution to two environmental challenges: recycling difficult-to-process plastics and producing valuable industrial materials.
A cross-disciplinary team developed a near-infrared fluorescent dye, SID-788, with excellent biocompatibility and superior ureter imaging performance. The dye enables clear ureter visualisation for at least four to five hours in porcine models using clinical NIR laparoscopes and robotic surgical systems.
Researchers have developed a new membrane technology that efficiently separates water from isopropanol, a widely used solvent in pharmaceuticals and electronics. The new membrane reduces energy consumption and improves purity levels, making it an attractive solution for a more climate-friendly chemical industry.
Researchers at Kyushu University found that microwave heating creates high-temperature regions on nickel nanoparticles, accelerating hydrogen production and paving the way for low-carbon chemical manufacturing. The study showed a six-fold increase in hydrogen production compared to conventional heating.
A Pusan National University-led team evaluates and optimizes liquid-hydrogen tank insulation using cooling channels circulating cryogenic sacrificial fluid. Effective LH2 storage requires smarter placement of cooling, not just more material.
An international team of researchers from China, Australia, and New Zealand propose a collaborative approach to next-generation water quality modeling. The researchers identified four collaboration themes: emerging technologies, uncertainty quantification, tackling climate change and urbanization, and shared modeling guidelines.
Wearable sensors can track dynamic changes in uric acid levels, providing valuable information for assessing healing progress and adjusting treatment plans. Researchers have improved the accuracy and reliability of these sensors using new materials and technologies.
A novel dynamic imine bond adhesive technology enhances commercial filters with improved particle retention and filtration performance, increasing efficiency and lifespan by up to 10-30% and extending filter lifespan by nearly a factor of two.
Researchers at Science Tokyo developed iron-substituted calcium titanate as an environmentally friendly support material for chemical looping. The material improves CO2 conversion by accelerating ion and electron transport, enabling scalable carbon recycling with abundant, low-cost elements.
The University of Tennessee at Knoxville has signed a new six-year master research agreement with Eastman, investing $3 million to support sponsored research and university-industry initiatives. The partnership aims to advance materials innovation, develop talent, and create solutions that benefit communities.
The SNU team developed a new nanostructured catalyst, termed 'nanomace,' by chemically bonding ceria nanocubes and nanorods. The interface where the two crystal structures meet serves as a key active site, enhancing lattice oxygen activation and catalytic reactions.
A new study by Hanyang University ERICA researchers reveals how air exposure can trigger chemical changes in manganese-coated batteries, accelerating degradation. The team proposes a simple solution to suppress defective surface phases and restore stable manganese-oxygen bonding, leading to improved long-term durability.
A Chinese research team has proposed a novel approach to separate dimethyl carbonate from methanol using a tailor-made ionic liquid and heat pump-assisted distillation. The method significantly reduces energy consumption and costs compared to traditional methods, making it an attractive solution for the chemical industry.
A multidisciplinary research framework integrating earth science and environmental engineering is proposed to mitigate the risks of waterborne pathogens. The framework emphasizes real-time detection, numerical simulation, and multi-omics approaches to track pathogens and harmful genes across various media.
A new model, PSIDMViT, combines anatomy, physics, and machine learning to predict accurate dose distributions for CyberKnife radiation therapy. The study shows improved agreement with Monte Carlo reference doses and reduced computation time, suggesting a promising strategy for improving radiotherapy dose prediction.
Researchers at Hasanuddin University developed a biodegradable plastic film with oxygen-scavenging properties, using cellulose from fermented coconut water to improve strength and functionality. The film breaks down quickly in soil, but maintaining flexibility and barrier performance remains a challenge.
A new 'Hydrology–Environment–Ecology' framework bridges aquatic and terrestrial ecological risk assessment for lake conservation. The framework reveals significant increasing trends in both aquatic and terrestrial ecological risks from 2000 to 2019, with habitat quality identified as the key risk indicator.
A new framework integrates all stages of carbohydrate vaccine development, from antigen production to clinical evaluation. The framework highlights emerging technologies like automated glycan assembly and AI-driven glycoscience to transform vaccine design.
Researchers expand potential of using bacterial spores for chemical reactions, biofuel production, and pollutant breakdown. New proteins fused to spore coat enable storage under extreme conditions without refrigeration.
A novel measurement cell enables in-situ/operando X-ray absorption spectroscopy measurements under high pressures and temperatures, providing new insights into thermocatalytic processes such as the Fischer-Tropsch synthesis. The setup is suitable for investigating catalytic gas-solid reactions under realistic operating conditions.
Flexible electromagnetic induction-type tactile sensors offer a promising route for low-power, robust and self-powered interfaces. The researchers provided a systematic roadmap for development, including application-oriented design and multimodal integration with other sensing mechanisms.
A novel, two-sided dressing made from sustainable polymers has been developed to deliver antibiotics directly to wounds during critical early stages of infection. The dressing reduces bacterial growth and biofilm formation by over 90%, promoting healing and reducing the risk of treatment failure.
A new review article proposes a gene-to-landscape framework to assess aquatic ecosystem health, predicting collapse and tipping points. The framework spans four interconnected scales, integrating molecular signals and landscape stability for early warning systems.
A team of chemists at Saarland University has synthesized a highly unusual bent sandwich molecule, defying long-held assumptions. The discovery opens up new possibilities for designing iron-containing materials and expanding the range of applications for metallopolymers.
A team of researchers developed a method to control powering down catalysts, improving carbon dioxide conversion without loss of performance. The approach reduces costs by about 25% and enables reliable operation with intermittent renewable electricity.
Researchers developed an aerated hydrogel that allows air to pass through while maintaining its water content. This breakthrough enables longer-lasting products, such as breathable bandages, implants, and wearable sensors, with improved skin comfort and reduced sweat buildup.
Researchers developed a homogeneous catalytic process converting methanol, carbon dioxide, and hydrogen into ethanol using inexpensive and stable catalyst precursors. The catalyst achieved high selectivity and yield, outperforming previous systems, and showed stability during storage and recycling tests.
University of Delaware researchers have developed a spray-jet method that recovers precious metals and other materials from used hydrogen-energy devices. The new recycling approach uses no harsh chemicals or burning, preserving the membrane itself while extracting platinum and iridium separately.
A novel approach using silica microspheres encapsulates colorants in plastics, allowing for easy recycling and selective separation of colors. This technology enables the reuse of high-value resources from previously downcycled plastics, significantly reducing energy consumption and environmental impact.
A study by Chiba University researchers reveals the structural origins of widely debated defect peaks in carbon materials. They used isotropic pitch-based carbon fiber to analyze various defects, including oxygen-containing functional groups and vacancy defects.
Dr. Abdoulaye Djire has been selected as a recipient of the prestigious Camille Dreyfus Teacher-Scholar Award, recognizing his exceptional early-career faculty in groundbreaking research and undergraduate teaching. The $100,000 award over five years will enhance Djire's educational experience by developing innovative learning tools.
Researchers found that non-thermal plasma prevents catalyst deactivation and maintains stable performance for 30 hours. The study links performance difference to changes in surface processes on the catalyst.
A new electrochemical system converts biomass-derived compounds into valuable chemicals while reducing energy consumption, producing essential products such as glutaric acid and ammonia. The nickel-vanadium layered double hydroxide catalyst accelerates both chemical reactions efficiently.
A self-driving chemistry lab called Flex-Cat has been developed to autonomously search for faster and more selective ways to make important industrial chemicals. The platform combines robotics, high-pressure reactors, and artificial intelligence to identify high-performing catalysts and those that can be programmed to produce different...
Researchers developed a new gel-based material that filters PFAS 'forever chemicals' from water using 'molecular Velcro', improving filtration capacity and reducing the need for fluorinated materials. The material can be reused by flushing out contaminants, offering a potential solution to removing PFAS from water.
Researchers at the University of Pittsburgh have developed a more sustainable and economically competitive process to produce battery-quality graphite, with hydrogen generated as a valuable co-product. The new method uses molten metal catalysis to dehydrogenate ethane, producing high-quality graphite that is currently dominated by China.
Researchers developed nanotube membranes that enable ultrafast ion transport, opening new pathways for high-efficiency clean energy generation and lithium recovery. The discovery shows boron nitride nanotubes selectively move lithium ions faster than expected, with potential applications in blue energy generation and battery recycling.
A new class of ultrathin polymer membranes can rapidly and selectively separate complex hydrocarbon mixtures, reducing the energy required for refinery streams. The breakthrough enables fast liquid transport and high molecular selectivity, promising a far more energy-efficient alternative to thermal distillation.
Researchers at Harvard's SEAS have developed a highly sensitive calorimeter that can detect metabolic heat signals on the order of 100 picowatts in living cells. The device tracks the growth of small populations of bacteria in real-time, including monitoring how bacterial growth changes in response to different antibiotics.
Graphonos Materials, a startup from the University of Pittsburgh, has developed a novel technology to produce battery-quality graphite and hydrogen using molten metal catalysis. This process is more energy-efficient and sustainable than current methods, which require high temperatures and generate significant carbon emissions.
Southwest Research Institute has patented EZ Flow technology, which reduces the viscosity of heavy crude oil by 40-60%, making it easier and less expensive to transport. The two-part process uses a proprietary chemical additive and controlled hydrodynamic cavitation to reduce viscosity without changing the oil's composition.
A new study transforms agricultural waste from lavender straw into a highly sensitive biochar-based sensor for ethylene glycol detection. The sensor material exhibits exceptional room-temperature performance, a low detection limit of 0.36 ppm, and long-term stability.
Researchers have developed a direct one-step synthesis of cyclohexanone cyanohydrin using nitrogen, methane, and cyclohexanone under mild conditions. The new method achieves high selectivity, yield, and formation rate, offering a new strategy for efficient utilization of inert small molecules.
A new study uses deep learning to predict how fast biochar materials break down antibiotic contaminants, offering a faster path toward cleaner water and smarter environmental remediation. The model reveals key mechanistic insights, including catalyst properties contributing 59.3% of the predictive power.
Researchers have discovered a new iron–scandium catalyst that stabilizes iron catalysts and enables the growth of centimeter-long carbon nanotubes under high-temperature conditions. The study reveals scandium as a key cocatalyst, improving catalyst lifetime and promoting CNT growth.
Researchers at the University of Waterloo developed a flexible polymer shield that provides radiation protection without the health and ergonomic risks associated with lead. The new material weighs almost 90% less than traditional aprons while maintaining excellent X-ray shielding.