Chemical industry welcomes Europe's state-aid revision on energy costs
The European chemical industry council, Cefic has welcomed the European Commission’s temporary revision of the Clean Industrial Deal State Aid Framework (CISAF) guidelines through the Middle East Temporary Crisis Framework (METSAF).
Award for Pest Management Science editor
An associate editor on SCI’s journal Pest Management Science has been given an award by the American Phytopathological Society (APS).
Europe puts major REACH revisions on hold
Europe has put on hold plans for major revisions to its key chemicals regulation, saying the move would ‘not be helpful’ at a time when industry needs certainty and predictability.
'We are a culture that is really well networked': Science-led innovation in Australia and New Zealand
Australia and New Zealand are distant from some of the world’s major markets. But their innovations have spurred many small and medium size enterprises, with world class technologies. Anthony King reports
Building bridges between science and industry: The countries winning the innovation game
The innovation race has winners and losers. China and South Korea have been fast growing their technological capabilities, while Switzerland has held the top spot for 14 years. Victoria Atkinson asks – what are these innovation leaders doing right?
Water-splitting catalyst helps with hydrogen generation
US researchers have developed a special catalyst recipe for a device that splits water into hydrogen and oxygen using electricity from renewable sources to generate hydrogen as a fuel source.
Comment: Methane pyrolysis
Historically, methane pyrolysis has been a field dominated by startups and small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). Monolith is the most commercially advanced company, while other notable players, such as Hazer Group, Modern Hydrogen and Graphitic Energy, are emerging across various pyrolysis pathways.
Persistent infrastructure identity
Picture the qualification closeout of a new API manufacturing suite or specialty chemical production unit. Years of engineering and compliance work have produced process hazard analyses, P&ID validation packages, equipment qualification protocols, containment integrity test records, and regulatory submission dossiers. That documentation is the most complete technical and regulatory portrait the facility will ever have. The process keeps running. Its compliance memory does not.
Sustainability in the vineyard: Wine from fungus-resistant vines
Grapevines are highly susceptible to fungal diseases, which are usually controlled through the intensive use of chemical pesticides. In cool and wet climates this can mean up to 12 treatments per season to keep vines healthy, and although this is effective, it also raises concerns around sustainability and soil quality.
This DNA-inspired molecule can store solar energy
Inspired by DNA, a US group has designed a chemical that can absorb the energy from sunlight and store it in a compact and rechargeable form. In molecular solar thermal (MOST) storage, a molecule captures light energy and bonds become strained like a mechanical spring to generate a higher-energy molecule.