Many processes require ammonia — but handling this volatile substance, which is aggressive in combination with water, is not easy. In particular, the need to take regular samples poses challenges for operators. Optimized processes enable faster sampling of ammonia and thus contribute to higher accuracy, lower costs and greater employee safety.

As we move towards a climate-neutral future, great hopes are being pinned on hydrogen as a key element of the energy transition. The energy-rich molecule can be used for storage and can act as an ideal versatile chemical energy carrier. But how might the hydrogen economy of the future look like? What volumes are required and what infrastructure is suitable? This trend report provides answers to these questions.

Organosulfur skeletons are crucial in many fields, including pharmaceuticals and electronics. Synthesizing organosulfur skeletons requires o-bromobenzenethiols. However, conventional methods face challenges due to quick oxidation and formation of highly reactive intermediates. In a new study, researchers from Japan developed a new method for synthesizing o-bromobenzenethiols from aryne intermediates via bromothiolation. This method can pave the way for the synthesis of new organosulfur compounds with applications in diverse fields.

What do the trend topics of circular economy, battery production and plant proteins have in common? They challenge the creativity of process engineers, and they follow the global megatrends of resource scarcity, mobility, nutrition and climate protection. Where the focus in the past decade was on new chemical processes and digital technologies, now it is the turn of mechanical process engineering.

Lummus’ new renewable dimethyl ether technology can process numerous types of methanol to produce renewable dimethyl ether. The technology is also capable of lowering Capex and Opex.

Wacker has acquired the US-based Bio Med Sciences’ manufacturing assets and know-how. With this move, Wacker aims to advance its expertise for fully integrated development and production of silicone-coated adhesive products.

BASF, Sabic, and Linde have started-up the world’s first large-scale electrically heated steam cracking furnace at BASF’s Verbund site in Ludwigshafen, Germany. The project makes use of electricity from renewable sources and has the potential to reduce CO2 emissions by at least 90 % compared to the technologies commonly used today in the chemical industry.

India’s largest Chlor-Alkali project is commissioned by Mundra Petrochemical, a subsidiary of Adani Enterprises. With a capacity of 2200 TPD and utilizing a 100 % NaOH process, the project is expected to play a vital role in the production of feedstocks for Mundra Petrochemical’s refineries and chemical plants.

Covestro is focusing on energy-intensive production of basic raw materials. The firm has partnered with Lanxess and makes use of energy in its electrolysis plants in North Rhine-Westphalia to reduce emissions by up to 120,000 metric tons of CO2 per year.

This year, Pfeiffer Vacuum will focus on vacuum generation in potentially explosive environments and on the evacuation of explosive gases at Achema 2024. For this, it will showcase its Okta Atex Roots pumps and Hiscroll Atex scroll pumps.