In the production of chemical compounds, the success of each individual reaction depends on numerous parameters. It is not always possible, even for experienced chemists, to predict whether a reaction will take place and how well it will work. In order to remedy this situation, chemists and computer scientists from the University of Münster have now developed a tool based on artificial intelligence. The study has been published in the journal ‘Chem’.

In a field test, a chemical plant in Japan ran autonomously for 35 days with the assistance of an artificial intelligence (AI) solution developed by Yokogawa and the Nara Institute of Science and Technology. The next-generation control technology is capable of taking into account numerous factors such as quality, yield, energy saving, and sudden disturbances.

Brexit is sealed ... What’s next for the EU-UK chemical industry? — Europe is the second largest chemicals producer in the world. With the UK now leaving the EU zone, what will this mean for chemical trade between the two sides? PROCESS Worldwide offers an insight into this dynamic market scenario.

Yara has signed a contract with Linde Engineering for the construction and delivery of a green hydrogen demonstration plant at Yara’s ammonia production facility at Herøya Industripark in Porsgrunn, Norway.

Messer has plans to develop a mega air separation unit (ASU) in Texas, USA which will be powered with solar energy. This will enable the company to reduce CO2 emissions at the site.

Roger Highton, MTL Product Line Manager at Eaton, reviews the challenges faced by modern processing plants and how a pioneering approach to marshalling can deliver big benefits.

Under the new joint venture agreement, BASF and Heraeus will establish a new company called ‘BASF Heraeus (China) Metal Resource Co.’ in China. The collaboration will enable a circular economy solution as precious metals will be recovered from spent automotive catalysts in the country.

With this investment, Cemex plans to increase its hydrogen injection capacity across its cement operations while reducing the consumption of fossil fuels leading to the decarbonization of its processes. Hiiroc has introduced a technology that makes use of thermal plasma electrolysis to convert biomethane, flare gas, or natural gas into clean hydrogen at a lower cost than other existing solutions.

With an aim to reduce industry emissions, ExxonMobil has plans to develop a hydrogen production plant along with one of the world’s largest carbon capture and storage (CCS) projects at its Baytown site in Texas, USA.

Ineos has plans to develop a world scale carbon capture enabled hydrogen production plant in Grangemouth, Scotland. For this, the company is inviting bids from leading engineering design contractors for the design of the mega project. The produced low carbon hydrogen will be used to replace hydrocarbon fuels used at the Grangemouth site which will help to power its processes and manufacture important materials.