PROCESS Worldwide brings to you a snapshot of some of the most revolutionary technologies of this year. From major breakthrough technologies in steam methane reforming to solutions analyzing the composition of gas treating agents in real time, find out all the latest innovations making news here.

With an aim to meet the growing demand of performance chemical products in China, Exxon Mobil has decided to go ahead and build a multi-billion-dollar chemical complex in the Dayawan Petrochemical Industrial Park in Huizhou, Guangdong Province in China. The complex which is expected to produce performance polymers includes a flexible feed steam cracker, three performance polyethylene lines, and two differentiated performance polypropylene lines.

BASF has plans to establish a separate mobile emissions catalysts business due to the massive shift in the automotive industry towards the sustainable electromobility market. The new business is expected to prepare for the changes in the internal combustion engine market. Also, the company’s massive investment in battery materials and recycling will further strengthen this segment.

From May 14 to 18, 2018, the world's leading trade fair for water, sewage, waste and raw materials management, Ifat, will take place in Munich. The exhibitors and an extensive framework programme will provide information about new developments for an optimized water supply and the treatment of wastewater and liquid waste.

With an aim to monitor its plant digitally in real-time and get access to detailed insights which will help DCM Shriram to optimize its plant performance, the company has selected Haldor Topsoe’s ClearView solution to digitalize its ammonia unit operations in Kota, India.

Nova Chemicals and Charter Next Generation have teamed up to scale up the use of post-consumer resin (PCR) in flexible film applications. With this move, the companies aim to support the circular economy and develop more sustainable films for packaging.

Messer has developed an argon production facility in Slovakia which is based on residual gases from the ammonia synthesis process. Other industrial gases such as methane, nitrogen and syngas are also recovered at the unit. The plant includes a fully automated process and has the capability to reduce CO2 emissions by 1.4 metric tons a day at full capacity owing to its proximity to the delivery locations.

Nuberg EPC has won two contracts from Ethiopia’s International Company for Chemical Industry and Chemical Industry Corporation – Awash Melkassa Chemical Factory and International Company for Chemical Industry (ICCI), Egypt respectively for developing sulphuric acid plants. The company will utilize its advanced Sulphuric Acid technology - Double Contact Double Absorption for both the projects.

There’s a new innovative and revolutionary microfluidic system which allows the mixing and extracting operations to be carried out using a mini glass chip which was otherwise conventionally performed with large-scale equipment. This microfluidic process boasts of combining numerous microfluidic chips simultaneously, thus, creating a ‘desktop chemical plant.’ Now, NTHU and Daicel have plans to integrate this microfluidic system into the chemical manufacturing industry.

Titan’s Oval Gear flow meters have played a vital role in converting bio waste into sustainable biofuels for Green Fuels’ biodiesel plants. The chemically resistant flow meters when combined with the Namur switch were suitable for precise batch dosing at the firm’s plants and can also be used across a wide range of applications. The switch ensures that the flow meters deliver highly accurate flow measurement in explosive atmospheres.