Latest Chemical Stories
How solar energy can be transformed into synthetic fuelMarch 28, 2017
New research has looked into how solar energy can be transformed into sustainable fuel. The resulting new procedure uses the sun's thermal energy to convert carbon dioxide and water directly into synthetic fuel
Chemical engineers boost bacteria’s productivity by improving yield of useful chemicalsMarch 28, 2017
Chemical engineers have shown that they could significantly enhance the yield of glucaric acid, a chemical precursor to products such as nylons and detergents, by shutting competing metabolic pathways in the cells
Resource consumption and process performance of wastewater treatment plantsMarch 14, 2017
E. Doherty, G. McNamara, L. Fitzsimons and E. Clifford outline the best methods of measuring, auditing and benchmarking for process optimisation in Irish wastewater treatment plants
From wings to walls: conductive polymer project turns on a new era in heatingFebruary 28, 2017
Can you imagine a wind turbine or aircraft wings that de-ice themselves in extreme conditions; floors and walls with invisible, built-in heating; or clothes that warm you up on cold days? New EU-funded research is making this a reality
Protective coating extends the lifespan of offshore maritime structuresFebruary 28, 2017
EU-funded researchers have developed thermally sprayed aluminium, an innovative coating that provides better, more environmentally friendly protection to offshore energy installations
Front end loading in a phased project-approval processFebruary 15, 2017
Peter Marsh outlines the key stages in a phased project-approval process, which is best practice for efficient implementation of major projects in hydrocarbon processing. The process is also applicable to many other industries in the manufacturing sector
Matters of the heart: Researchers create 3D beating heartFebruary 14, 2017
Researchers have now found a way to create 3D heart tissue that beats in synchronised harmony that will lead to better understanding of cardiac health and improved treatments
Designing data integrity into pharma equipment – a systems integrator’s perspectiveJanuary 31, 2017
Shane Loughlin outlines how the pharma industry can comply with the European Medicines Agency's draft guidelines on data integrity during manufacturing, packaging, distributing and monitoring of medicines
Design for toxic-waste incineration facility wins Kevin Kelly Design AwardJanuary 31, 2017
UCD graduate in chemical and bioprocess engineering Amy O'Keeffe outlines her award-winning design of a toxic incinerator plant for Irish domestic requirements and her review of the use of electrostatic precipitators in industry
Irish-designed software is a game changer for safe disposal of pharmaceutical wasteJanuary 17, 2017
Kevin Walsh’s research carried at Waterford Institute of Technology has led to engineering consultancy Aphex developing revolutionary software for safe disposal of chemical waste for the pharmaceutical industry
3D antibody arrays could help diagnose malaria and other diseasesJanuary 17, 2017
MIT chemical engineers have built three-dimensional arrays of antibodies that could be used as sensors to diagnose diseases such as malaria or tuberculosis
A cleaner, more efficient car? New material designed to better store hydrogen fuelDecember 13, 2016
Chemical engineer Jose Mendoza-Cortes has designed new materials that could be used to store hydrogen fuel more efficiently in hydrogen fuel cars or other devices that use clean energy
‘Mood ring’ materials: a new way to detect damage in failing infrastructureNovember 29, 2016
Mixing nanoparticles into a batch of clear polymer resin results in a smart material that changes colour when it is damaged or about to fail. The technology could play an important role in minimising and mitigating damage to failing infrastructure, say researchers
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