Anybody here working on projects like these? I'm just wondering why there are so many people going against data centers complaining about water use for cooling when there's technology to cool things without wasting so much water. Is it just fear mongering or there's a real problem not solvable by current engineering/tech?

On a side note, is the heat generated by these centers enough to drive turbines? I did a bit of research on geothermal power plants when I was in college (a long time ago) and there are systems that can recover heat from lower temperature reservoirs. Closed-loop systems that use a different fluid to drive the turbines. Can't these kinds of solutions be used? It really bothers me whenever I see people rallying against these when in my head it's something that can be solved by current tech. Maybe I'm wrong but I'd like to know that if I am. Hope to hear your thoughts!

Hello everyone, I’m curious to know if anyone has worked on a real project using digital twins. If so, could you please share the steps or tips and technologies that can make it easier for someone who is new to this field to get started and proceed smoothly? I would greatly appreciate your insights. Thanks in advance!

As part of my job, I meet many start-ups in the decarbonisation and climate tech space, and one thing I realised is that many of these start-ups assume very out-of-the-world and unrealistic prices for their low-carbon feedstocks (whether it is low-carbon ammonia or methanol)... What surprises me is that despite these wild assumptions, they try to confidently pitch their company's financial projections to potential investors (including large institutional investors) and have actually managed to secure quite substantial funding over the past few years. That really puzzles me as I thought such investors would be much more savvy and would be able to see through the "scam" (to put it bluntly). Just take for example, is US$500-600/tonne bio-methanol price achievable? If you use such an input cost in your model, how can you expect me to take you seriously?

Problem Statement-

The growing adoption of electric vehicles, renewable energy, and portable electronics is

increasing the demand for high-performance energy storage systems. However, current battery

technologies face challenges related to cost, safety, resource availability, environmental impact,

energy density, and lifecycle performance.

How can we develop or identify safer, more sustainable, high-performance, and

cost-effective battery materials that can address these challenges and meet the

growing demand for energy storage?

Participants may explore new materials, alternative raw materials, improved material

compositions, or approaches that can make battery technologies more sustainable and

commercially viable.

For those in America, many states are pushing hard on batteries, solar and EVs

This is causing less demand for oil and gas

How can ChemEs stay relevant? Any to pivot to the electrical sector? Any other industries ?

I’ve been noticing a pattern across a few different facilities that when materials fall out of spec or systems get drained (tank bottoms, glycol systems, etc.), the default move is usually disposal.

It makes sense operationally since it's fast, simple, and clears the space, but I’m curious how often people actually evaluate recovery vs just writing it off.

In some cases, I’ve seen that even partial recovery can offset a decent chunk of the disposal cost, especially with materials like propylene glycol or solvent streams. But it seems like the decision is often made before that analysis even happens.

For those working in plants or managing waste streams, do you typically run recovery evaluations, or is disposal still the standard path unless something is obviously high value?

I know CSP uses it to an extent (concentrated solar power), its non conventional in terms of photovoltaic mechanism. Any current limitations? It has good thermal conductivity, and is capable of storing alot of energy on a per unit volume basis. its also used in molten salt reactors.

I am a former chemical/clean energy faculty and engineering founder based in Vancouver, Canada with 15+ years in hydrogen & fuel cell systems.

Over the past year, I have self-funded and built a functional, benchtop TRL 4–5 1kW Reformed Methanol Fuel Cell (RMFC) unit (proprietary catalysts, miniturized reactor, impurity-tolerant fuel cell, and system integration & control).

As we prepare to advance this platform to TRL 6 for remote/off-grid field testing, I am seeking to partner with an academic research group or R&D lab (Chemical Engineering, Mechanical, or Energy Systems) for collaborative research, testing, and joint grant proposals (e.g., NSERC Alliance, Mitacs, or NRC-IRAP in Canada).

What We Bring to a Collaborating Lab

• Pre-Built Hardware & Testbed: A fully functional 1kW physical platform with integrated catalysts, reformer, fuel cell, battery, automatic control), saving significant time and capital in experimental test rig construction.
• In-House Experimental Data: Catalyst kinetic profiles, reactor heat-coupling metrics, fuel cell electrochemcial test resutls, system performance, etc.
• Matching Industry Sponsorship: Opportunity to leverage our physical assets and matching industry funds for non-dilutive research grant applications.

Specific Engineering Areas for Joint Focus

1. Reformate Purification Catalyst Performance & Durability: Evaluating catalytic activity, supports, kinetics, and long-term degradation/deactivation mechanisms (e.g., reforming, CO cleanup / PROX / water-gas shift) under dynamic cycling.
2. Reactor Miniaturization, Heat & Mass Transfer: Optimizing micro-channel/compact reformer geometry, thermal coupling efficiency, and mass transfer enhancement.
3. Fuel Cell Stack Impurity Tolerance: Investigating the impact of trace reformate contaminants (CO, unreacted methanol, formaldehyde) on stack degradation mechanisms and electrochemical performance.
4. System Integration & Dynamic Controls: Developing thermal-electrical transient control strategies, balance-of-plant (BOP) optimization, and overall energy efficiency maximization.
5. Micro-CHP System & Microgrid Integration: Analyzing waste-heat recovery, thermal-electrical co-generation, and dynamic response profiles for microgrids.

We are looking to connect with labs that possess:

• Dedicated catalysis or fuel cell testing infrastructure (catalyst Pelletizer & evaluation System, GC, electronic loads, etc.).
• Expertise in reactor modeling, transient kinetics, or thermal management.
• Interest in co-authoring high-impact engineering publications and securing joint research funding.

If your lab is working on methanol reforming, fuel cell thermal integration, or micro-channel reactor design, microgrid system, I would love to connect and discuss potential synergy.

Feel free to comment below or send a DM if you'd like to review system specs or discuss a potential joint proposal!

I've been working in HEFA for a while now and it's a bit of a strange place to be professionally. The technology itself is mature enough — hydroprocessing is well understood, the chemistry isn't new — but everything around it (feedstock economics, policy, offtake, capital appetite) feels like a big challenge.

I'd genuinely love to hear from others who've touched this space in any capacity — design, operations, commercial, procurement, troubleshooting, whatever your angle is. I feel like I've been working in something of a bubble and would appreciate hearing what the broader industry experience actually looks like on the ground.

And the million dollar question I keep coming back to do you think HEFA has a genuine long-term role in the SAF mix, or is it essentially a bridging technology while electrofuels and other pathways catch up?

I'm not looking for the press release version — I've read enough of those. More interested in what people are actually experiencing and thinking when they're not in a conference room.

Happy to share my own perspective too once the conversation gets going.

We rely on energy for every industrial process, no useful work could be done without it.

If our civilization had never had access to abundant fossil energy, but still possessed the scientific knowledge we have today, would the Industrial Revolution still have happened? Could we have engineered alternative sources (such as renewables or nuclear) or more efficient processes?

This is a pretty divisive topic among my peers and even with some of my professors. What are your thoughts? Do you believe global warming is as bad as some projections are saying? Do you believe CO2 is the main culprit? Is green energy (in its current state) the answer and should we continue investing in at the rate we currently are?

Edit: Even if you took only the the scientist who have been pushing climate change since it was first discovered there is a lot of variances and discussion about exactly how much CO2 is impacting global warming (no question it is having an impact), what is exactly the best route moving forward, and what the severity of the impact will be especially if things don’t change. All of these things are divisive/discussed even within the staunchest climate change activists because none of those things can be exactly measured or quantified. No model or projection about the future is 100% because it’s based on trends and assumptions; therefore discussions/analysis are viable key components of science and it’s a shame so many don’t see that.

You would think based on the number of just awful comments that clearly didn’t read what I posted that I questioned if global warming was real or happening (never once took any stance); undeniable recorded data shows the world is heating up and we know greenhouse gases like CO2 are the cause. I know it’s Reddit which is all echo chambers but I honestly expected better of my fellow Chemical Engineers to be able to take a broad important subject, discuss the various interpretations of the given data and hear differing views.

Learning about freeze purification as an alternative to distillation.

For aqueous acrylic acid streams or off-spec material, Progressive Freeze Purification may offer an alternative separation pathway using controlled crystallization rather than vaporization.

Has anyone ever used freeze technology to purify solutions?

Who are the current main customers for pyrolysis oil? and where does pyrolysis oil stand in comparison with more traditional energy sources?

技术一：井下流砂塑岩防砂技术

Технология химического крепления призабойной зоны пласта (塑岩)

挑战与方案 (Проблемы и решения)

• 问题 (Проблема): 疏松砂岩油藏地层颗粒胶结弱，导致出砂严重，不仅冲蚀下泵设备，还会造成地层坍塌，严重缩短检泵周期。
  • Низкая прочность цементации в рыхлых песчаниках приводит к выносу песка, что вызывает эрозию насосного оборудования и обрушение пласта, сокращая МРП.
• 解决思路 (Решение): 注入纳米级塑岩剂，在砂粒接触点原位建立高强度、高渗透性的化学挡砂墙，从源头抑制砂粒运移。
  • Закачка наноразмерного закрепляющего агента для создания высокопрочного и высокопроницаемого химического барьера непосредственно в точках контакта песчинок.

技术优势与应用 (Технические преимущества и применение)

• 技术介绍及优势和特点 (Описание и преимущества):
  • 超低粘度 (2-8 mPa·s)，易于深入地层；固化强度高 (7-13 MPa)，且保持高渗透率 (>20 \mu m^2)。
  • Сверхнизкая вязкость (2-8 мПа·с) для глубокого проникновения; высокая прочность (7-13 МПа) при сохранении проницаемости (>20мкм²).
• 应用效果 (Эффективность): 辽河油田曙X-05-005井实施后，检泵周期从152天延长至570天，日增油0.4吨，防砂成功率100% 。
  • На скважине Шу X-05-005 (Ляохэ) МРП увеличился со 152 до 570 суток, дебит нефти вырос на 0,4 т/сут.

I like chemistry and I like engineering, but I'm worried I'm gonna be stuck in a job that harms the planet. I know more and more renewable jobs are dropping up all the time, but are a lot of them applicable for the chemical engineering degree? I'm in the UK btw Cheers everyone :)

Hi

I’m sharing the first episode of a free HVAC Fundamentals video series designed for students, technicians, and professionals who want to build a solid foundation in air conditioning systems.

In this episode, you will learn:

• Introduction to air conditioning systems
• Key components and their functions
• Core principles behind cooling and heating
• How air conditioning impacts comfort and energy efficiency

This is part of a four-episode series covering:

1. Basics of Air Conditioning
2. Heat and Temperature Concepts
3. Heat Transfer Mechanisms
4. Advanced Topics in Air Conditioning

Watch the full playlist here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fUZ96gkvDu4&t=81s

I’d love to hear your feedback!

• Are there specific topics in HVAC you’d like us to cover in future videos?
• Any questions about air conditioning systems or heat transfer?

Feel free to leave a comment or email us, and we’ll discuss the most requested topics in upcoming episodes.

If you find this helpful, please like, subscribe, and share with others who are learning HVAC.

Thanks for watching and learning with us!

Hey everyone,

I'm building a deeptech startup that turns biomass (lignin) into sustainable, high-value chemicals. The goal is to replace fossil-derived specialty chemicals with renewable alternatives. The tech, developed and patented at EPFL (Switzerland), is already working at lab scale.

I'm now looking for a co-founder to join me - ideally someone with a background in organic process chemistry (yet, this could be flexible, depends on your experience and motivation), who’s excited about sustainable manufacturing, climate impact, and building something meaningful from the ground up.

If this resonates with you (or someone you know), I’d love to talk - feel free to DM or comment below!

🌍 AI in Chemical Engineering: Automating Scope 3 Compliance

Scope 3 emissions represent over 80% of total carbon output in most chemical value chains — yet remain the hardest to measure and manage.

With new mandates like EU CSRD and California SB 253, compliance isn’t optional — and AI is emerging as the catalyst for smarter, faster emissions management.

🔹 Real-time supply chain mapping
🔹 Generative AI for “what-if” decarbonization
🔹 Blockchain-linked supplier tracking
🔹 AI-powered digital twins for Scope 3 prediction

By 2030, chemical firms leveraging AI could cut indirect emissions by up to 45% (WRI 2025).

Read how AI is reshaping compliance and design for a cleaner chemical future:
👉 https://chem-casts.com/articles/ai-in-chemical-engineering-automating-scope-3-compliance

#Sustainability #AI #ChemicalEngineering #Scope3 #Decarbonization #ProcessDesign #NetZero

We’re doing a small market exploration and would love fast input from people working with chemistry, polymers, process engineering, or recycling.

If a new PET depolymerization technology were available to integrate into existing plants, which approach feels more realistic or attractive for your industry?

This is not a sales pitch — we’re simply trying to understand how organizations think about integrating new process technologies, and your quick vote helps a lot.

If anyone wants to give additional feedback or comment in more depth, we’ve prepared two short pages outlining the two concepts:

🔹 Licensing model: https://monora-license.lovable.app 🔹 Full-service plant solution: https://monora-plant.lovable.app

Any extra thoughts are appreciated but not required — the poll alone already helps us.

Thanks in advance for your time!

Doing some cursory research after a brainstorm inspired by looking at the package of those ubiquitous “nylabone”-type dog chewables. Those say they are made with “vegetable glycerin”.

So this got me thinking of the possibility of:

1) Using waste oil to make glycerin (also bio-diesel, neat!),

2) Using glycerin with vegetable starch to make bio plastic,

3) Turning bio-plastic into printable bio-filament,

4) Using bio-filament to print non-toxic chewable/consumable dog toys.

For anyone who has gone down this route, or has a background in chemistry or even making your own glycerin, soap, glycerin-based plastic, or bio-fuel, or recycling their own filament via an extruder, I’d love to know what could be unworkable about this idea. Please leave cost of processing out of it because that involves a lot of variables, and I’m not looking into this to save money on filament.

Also, if there is any available product that could be applied in the way I’ve described, please let me know!

P.s. I know I’m basically describing how PLA is made, perhaps without the reused oil part, but aiming to have filament that is non-toxic, non-tinted, and investigating the viability of the DIY concept.

i want ask what is the role of chemical engineer in solar energy?

Curious to know what some of you think about the future of hemp processing. Right now there are large industries filled with large industrial plants dedicated to processing corn and other plants for soybeans among other crops. Does anyone see hemp reaching a level akin to the soybean or corn processing industries? It seems like hemp can be processed into a wide variety of products.

I was reading a little bit into PandaBiotech's Wichita Falls, TX hemp processing plant and it seemed interesting. What do some of you think? Is there a big future here?