Chemical recycling of mixed plastic waste
Quickly, the world gets critical of plastic waste. It litters land, waterways and oceans. Until quite recently, rich countries could export their waste to poorer countries – for them to sort out the difficult tail of consumer society. But since China banned such imports in 2018, each country needs to deal with its own waste.
Biohydrogen: the next green alternative fuel
Hydrogen has a high energy content (120-142.9 MJ/kg); it is a clean energy carrier and can replace fossil fuels. Hydrogen is already a fuel of choice for space programs; it guarantees environmental quality and mitigates climate change. However, the presently used commercial methods for its production are not environmentally friendly; they require a major energy
The role of chemistry in the reduction of plastic waste
In a first article, we proposed that plastic waste should no longer exist in ten to fifteen years from now. This ambitious goal needs to be tackled from two sides: plastics design on the input side, and dedicated processing on the output side. In both processes, chemists play a major role. And industry should show
Plastic waste: let’s put an end to it in 10 to 15 years
Mankind needs to set a clear goal: plastic waste should no longer exist in ten to fifteen years from now. This ambitious goal needs to be tackled from two sides: plastics design on the input side, and dedicated processing on the output side. Circular design concepts and professional reprocessing, including clever collection schemes, should help
Biobased MEG directly from sugars, a new step in green chemistry
FD, the Dutch financial newspaper, today reported that Avantium will make new steps in green chemistry. It will construct a pilot plant to produce biobased MEG, directly from sugars. MEG is one of the components of the biobased plastic PEF that may substitute PET. Avantium now develops the technology to produce all PEF ingredients from
The case for new biobased platform chemicals
Biobased chemicals struggle with low energy prices. If they are drop-ins, they have a hard time competing with petrochemicals. Therefore, the case for new, specifically biobased platform chemicals, gets stronger. This case is demonstrated by companies that concentrate on new biobased chemicals like furandicarboxylic acid (FDCA); and it is supported by science. At the recent
Neol Bio: waste to green chemicals
At the World Bio Markets conference in Amsterdam, a presentation by Javier Velasco Álvarez of Neol Bio caught my attention. Neol Bio is a technology developer with a focus on microbial oils. Their current focus is to produce high value oils for the oleochemical sector from a wide range of biomass waste. Chemicals from waste
Catalysis, the key to the future
‘If you had asked me five years ago which branch of catalysis would gain the upper hand, I would have said biocatalysis,’ says professor Sébastien Paul, head scientist of the Realcat program in Northern France. ‘But with recent developments, I look upon hybrid catalysis, the integration of chemical catalysis and biocatalysis, as the most exciting
