Latest Chemical Stories
New discovery by chemical engineers could help oral medicines to work betterNovember 29, 2016
A new method has been discovered for customising ingredients that help oral medications, such as anti-seizure drugs and prostate-cancer drugs, dissolve in the body and be absorbed into the bloodstream
Plant-to-human communication: nanobionic spinach plants can detect explosivesNovember 15, 2016
By embedding leaves with carbon nanotubes, chemical engineers have transformed spinach plants into sensors that can detect explosives and wirelessly relay that information to a handheld device
Process-safety case studies – catastrophic failures of heat exchangersNovember 1, 2016
Peter Marsh analyses three temperature-related failures of shell and tube heat exchangers in gas processing and oil-refining plants from around the world, resulting in substantial loss of business and, tragically, the deaths of nine employees
New ‘green’ soap molecule could clean out cleaning product industryNovember 1, 2016
A new soap molecule has been invented by engineers.Oleo-furan-surfactant, or OFS soap, is made from renewable sources that could reduce the number of chemicals in cleaning products and their impact on the environment
Bioburden control in biopharmaceuticals and single-use technologyOctober 18, 2016
Concluding our series on bioburden control, Chris J.A. Davis outlines the control measures that can be applied to the biopharmaceutical process, compares steam-in-place to hot-water sanitisation and examines the increasing use of single-use technology
Researcher engineers clean water-treatment option to target sporadic outbreaksOctober 18, 2016
An environmentally friendly technology to zap outbreak-causing viruses and bacteria from public drinking water has been developed by engineers
Bioburden control in biopharmaceuticals: managing the risksOctober 4, 2016
In the first of a two-part series on bioburden control, Chris Davis defines biopharmaceutical products, outlines the risks inherent in biopharmaceutical processes and examines how to prevent microbial contamination
Portable device produces biopharmaceuticals on demandOctober 4, 2016
System is designed to use microbes for manufacturing small amounts of vaccines and other therapies that could be used to produce treatments at the point of care
Engineering polymer brush patterns: quicker and more versatile methodsSeptember 20, 2016
A new method of engineering polymer brush patterns developed at UC Santa Barbara promises to cut down processing time while adding versatility in design
Successful water treatment – setting the scales straightSeptember 20, 2016
Effective water treatment can be a balancing act for businesses, with scaling, corrosion and tuberculation all potentially problematic. Dr Simona Vasilescu explores how bespoke monitoring is a cost effective and sustainable water-treatment solution
The importance of properly classifying chemical substances and mixturesSeptember 6, 2016
Áine Monaghan outlines the importance of correctly classifying chemical substances and mixtures, even though the UN’s Globalised Harmonised System of Classification and Labelling of Chemicals is interpreted differently in some jurisdictions
Engineers use microwaves to produce high-quality grapheneSeptember 6, 2016
Engineers have found a method for producing quality graphene that can be used in next-generation electronic devices: bake the compound in a microwave oven
New wastewater technologies to allow development in poor soilsAugust 9, 2016
Joe Walsh looks at two technologies that can provide solutions for many sites previously considered unsuitable for development due to the health risks associated with sewage-related pollution
Flexible pharmacy with portable system that can produce drugs on demandAugust 9, 2016
Engineers have developed a compact, portable 'flow processing' pharmaceutical manufacturing system that can be reconfigured to produce a variety of drugs on demand
Towards sustainable agricultural waste management using dry anaerobic digestionJuly 26, 2016
Treatment of wastewater containing high concentrations of nitrogen from pig farming is an ongoing environmental problem. Can dry anaerobic digestion technology solve the problem of how best to treat pig manure, including piggery wastewater?
Woodchip bioreactors: biological nitrogen removal for cleaning agricultural runoffJuly 26, 2016
Dr Laura Christianson writes that in nitrogen-impaired regions around the world, there are key research opportunities to develop denitrifying woodchip bioreactor technology to provide a practical and low-cost water quality solution
Electrochemical water splitting: a new dawn for the hydrogen economyJuly 12, 2016
In a major clean-energy breakthrough, Trinity researchers have developed a material that enhances water splitting at a very low-energy cost using earth abundant raw materials, increasing adoption of hydrogen as fuel in energy-efficient transportation
Chemical engineers design programmable RNA vaccinesJuly 12, 2016
Engineers have developed a new type of customisable vaccine that could work against Ebola, H1N1 influenza and other disease outbreaks, and could be deployed faster than traditional vaccines. The new vaccines could also be used against other infectious diseases and cancer
CE marking, ATEX and the Machinery Directive – how to get them rightJune 28, 2016
Pat Swords and Margaret Doran examine the procedures and methodologies necessary for ensuring compliance with the obligations under the EU's ‘New Approach’ directives
Scientists engineer tunable DNA for electronics applicationsJune 28, 2016
A team has been able to understand and manipulate DNA to more finely tune the flow of electricity through it - opening up a new avenue of research advancements