3D printing technique grows metals and ceramics in hydrogel
A group in Switzerland has pioneered a 3D printing technique that grows metals and ceramics inside a water-based gel. A hydrogel consisting of around 50% polymer is printed as a template and then soaked in water with metal salts that move into the gel. The metal salts are precipitated as metal oxides or metal inside the template once a chemical reagent is added. The cycle is repeated between five and ten times to steadily increase the metal load in the gel template.
Understanding the STEM skills pipeline
Each year, one early-career chemical or process engineer swaps the lab bench for the corridors of Westminster, not to become a politician, but to help inform them. The Ashok Kumar Fellowship, funded by the Institution of Chemical Engineers (IChemE) and the Materials Processing Institute, gives engineers the chance to spend three months working in the UK Parliament.
Europe's chemicals industry: 'We're at the eleventh hour'
A new report has set out the structural pressures that are eroding the competitiveness of the European chemicals industry, as the chairman of Ineos warns that action is needed ‘or there won’t be much of a European chemical industry left to save.’
The big decisions facing the European chemicals industry
Europe’s chemicals industry has faced a number of severe shocks in recent years and is now at a tipping point.
How green chemistry stops fruit browning
One of the most significant causes of discolouration in fruits and vegetables is the result of enzymatic browning, catalysed by polyphenol oxidase (PPO), an oxidoreductase enzyme. Now, a new study has investigated the potential of Hicaz pomegranate (Punica granatum Hicaz var.) peel extract as a natural PPO inhibitor for potatoes, apples and mushrooms.
Possible treatment for Huntington’s disease
A treatment for Huntington’s disease that combines gene therapy with neurosurgery appears to significantly slow the disease. Its developer, the international bioscience company uniQure, plans to apply to the US FDA in 2026 for accelerated approval to market the drug.
Business digest: Chemistry industry updates
The latest business digest for C&I Issue 11 2025 with all the latest mergers and acquisitions in the chemical industry.
Capturing CO2 from seawater to make bioplastics
A system to capture carbon dioxide (CO₂) from seawater and convert it into biodegradable plastic precursors shows promise as a sustainable way to produce industrial chemicals.