From the understanding of chemical reactions on the molecular level to the knowledge of materials, from product design to the contribution of chemistry to sustainability and innovation
Does today's process simulation meet the requirements posed by increasing digitalisation up to the "digital twin"? This question is addressed by the experts of the ProcessNet working committee Process Simulation, Process Synthesis and Knowledge Processing in their current position paper "Process Simulation - Fit for the Future?
The BMBF-funded research and development programme ‘Technologies for Sustainability and Climate Protection – Chemical Processes and Use of CO2’ ran from 2010 to the end of 2016 and covered the following main areas: ‘Using CO2 as a feedstock for the chemical industry’, ‘Chemical energy storage’ and ‘Energy-efficient processes’. Each of these main areas is accompanied in this final report by a review article that pro-vides a comprehensive overview of the topic. The 33 projects that received funding have been classified into these three main areas or clusters. A short article has been provided for each research project and focuses on presenting the central results of the project. In the ‘Energy-efficient processes’ cluster, the review article, which covers the subject of carbon capture, serves as an example of the very diverse range of projects grouped in this part of the report.
With the new guideline "Incident Investigation", the ProcessNet Working Committee Lessons from Process Safety Incidents provides safety experts from small and medium-sized enterprises with a tool to analyze non-notifiable incidents and near misses and to derive measures for the future. The guideline describes the steps from the composition of the investigation team to the analysis method and the definition of measures to the communication of the learnings from the incident.
The 34-page brochure published by the German Catalysis Society (GeCatS) contains not only the essential basics but also the key topics of modern catalysis research for teachers and learners. GeCatS thus makes a recommendation as to which topics should be covered in catalysis training and how these can be integrated into Master's programmes as well as into doctoral and postdoctoral training courses.
The biopharmaceutical industry has developed rapidly in recent decades, with biotechnologically manufactured drugs are at the top both in new approvals and new fields of application. Various trends such as the production of biosimilars have led to a real boom in new production facilities in recent years.
Pharmaceutical companies are increasingly planning and constructing more flexible, smaller plants to meet the demand. These flexible Facilities of the Future (FoF) often use single-use systems. The Status Paper of the DECHEMA working group “Single-use technology in biopharmaceutical manufacturing” is an introduction in the field.
Carbon4PUR project explores industrial symbiosis between steel and chemical industry to produce polymer foams and coatings from steel off-gases Flue gases from steel manufacturing contain a mixture of carbon dioxide and carbon monoxide, valuable feedstock gases for chemical production. Manufacturing high value polyurethane materials from these flue gases to is the ambition of Carbon4PUR, a 7.8 Mill. Euro Horizon2020 project with 14 partners from 8 countries, coordinated by Covestro. The unique Carbon4PUR technology will valorise steel off-gas without previous cleaning or separation of the gas components. This flexible and energy efficient technology will allow a reduction of the CO2 footprint of polyurethane production by 20-60% and substitution of at least 15% of the oil-based reactants by waste-gas based carbon. A collaboration between value chain partners and experts The Carbon4PUR consortium comprises industrial partners along the entire value chain. Flue gas is provided by steel manufacturer Arcelor Mittal to feed the production of polyurethane intermediates at Covestro. Polyurethane manufacturers Recticel N.V. in Belgium and Megara Resins S.A. in Greece are involved as downstream producers, testing the intermediates for the manufacturing of rigid foams and polymer dispersions. The Port of Marseille Fos, an industrial production site for both Covestro and ArcelorMittal, is the model site for which the industrial symbiosis concept will be evaluated. Leading European research and technology support partners are involved to further develop and evaluate the Carbon4PUR technology: the French Atomic Energy and Alternative Energies Commission and RWTH Aachen University for process design and catalyst development; Ghent University for flue gas treatment; Leiden University and TU Berlin for life cycle and techno-economic assessment;; sustainability solutions provider South Pole Group for investigating social impacts and mechanisms for market uptake; and PNO Consultants for value chain and stakeholder analysis. DECHEMA will provide mapping and assessment of potential replication sites for the technology, together with Imperial College in London, and is responsible for dissemination and communication.
In order to meet the growing demand for and exploit the potential of phytoextracts for food, pharmaceutical or agrochemical applications, a coordinated research approach with adequate public funding is mandatory. In its current position paper “Phytoextracts – Proposal towards a new and comprehensive research focus”, the ProcessNet sub-division “Phytoextracts – Products and processes” outlines the state of research and technology and gives recommendations for research targets and approaches
Raw Water – Process – Waste Water
Global changes in water availability and the manifold regulatory frameworks have already prompted many companies to develop ambitious strategies to improve their water usage efficiency. This requires a combination of know-how and process technology, embedded in integrated industrial water management solutions.
Due to the high innovation potential of an integrated industrial water management the ProcessNet Subject Division Production-Integrated Water/Waste Water Technology has developed a position paper to highlight the trends and perspectives in industrial water technology.
With this 2nd edition of the Roadmap the ProcessNet subject division Chemical Reaction Engineering addresses the general trend that Chemical Reaction Engineering is directly defining product quality and product properties and, thus, is getting directly involved in the development of innovative application characteristics of products. To an increasing extent Chemical Reaction Engineering is also a key for the process and product development of industrial sectors outside the chemical industry such as energy technology or automotive engineering. Chemical Reaction Engineering is not anymore only devoted to understand, design and optimize chemical reactors in terms of yield, energy and efficiency. In addition, it is a key enabler for product innovations and new business concepts through e.g. product by process approaches or modular plant concepts.
All the aspects mentioned before are considered now in the 2nd edition of the roadmap including case studies, technical chapters and an outlook updated accordingly.
The present White Paper „Modular Plants“ was developed in the temporary ProcessNet working group „Modular Systems“ in a close cooperation between industry and research institutions. It provides the current state of the joint efforts to improve the modularisation of plant technology in the chemical industry. The paper calls for a standardization of the nomenclature for modular production concepts to provide the basis for a wide industrial application of the technology. It points out obstacles but also possible development paths of modularisation and weighs its strengths against risks. Furthermore, research needs and funding actions are identified that are necessary for the further implementation of modular system concepts. A translation of the text into German is planned and publication should be done at the same place.