Chemicals & Materials Now!
From basic to specialty, and everything in between
“Decisive Actions” Needed for GCC Chemicals
Posted on December 15th, 2017 by Jonathan López in Chemicals Industry News and Analysis
The traditional reliance of the chemical industry in the GCC region on cheap and plentiful feedstock is no longer a guarantee for competitive performance. “Changes are necessary” to remain a global chemical powerhouse, according to the chairman of the Gulf Petrochemicals and Chemicals Association (GPCA). Continue reading ““Decisive Actions” Needed for GCC Chemicals” »
A New Hydrogen Disaster? The Leeds Experiment
Posted on November 23rd, 2017 by Mike Schmidt in Chemical Manufacturing Excellence

The Hindenburg disaster in Lakehurst, New Jersey, May 6, 1937-photo by Sam Shere
“The two most common elements in the universe are hydrogen and stupidity.” – Harlan Ellison Continue reading “A New Hydrogen Disaster? The Leeds Experiment” »
The Economics of Recycling
Posted on February 17th, 2017 by Chris Walker in Chemical Manufacturing Excellence
Last time we briefly looked at the European Commission’s (EC) recently published roadmap for its Strategy on Plastics under the Circular Economy Initiative. One of the key problems the EC is looking to tackle is the low rate of recycling and reuse of plastics. Continue reading “The Economics of Recycling” »
ICIS Innovation Awards – The Winners
Posted on October 20th, 2016 by John Baker in Chemical R&D
Innovation comes in all shapes and sizes in the chemical industry, as today’s winners of the ICIS Innovation Awards 2016 clearly show. The overall winner, US-based Compact Membrane Systems is a small start-up but one with a big idea – a cheaper and more energy efficient way of separating lower olefins for paraffins. Continue reading “ICIS Innovation Awards – The Winners” »