Can Plastics Be Turned Into Oil?

The world has a plastic problem. Too much of the material is ending up in our environment, and recently microplastics were even found in humans for the first time. There’s a growing movement to curtail our use of the material, but what should we do with what we already have? According to Let’s Recycle, there are a growing number of companies exploring the possibility of recycling plastics into oil.

Spotlight

Flowserve Corporation

Flowserve is one of the world's largest manufacturers of pumps, valves and seals with over 19,000 employees in over 60 countries. Built on more than 50 world-renowned heritage brands, the equity and customer loyalty we have earned over the past 220 years is the foundation of our leadership position across the globe.

OTHER ARTICLES
Chemical Technology

Ways Your Chemical Company Can Benefit From Digitization

Article | June 6, 2022

The chemical industry is evolving. The marketing, purchasing, and selling of chemicals are being affected by forces in the market, with digitization unquestionably having the most significant impact. Many of the existing digitizing models have likely already been given some thought and then rejected. Chemical businesses are currently conducting pilot projects or starting to gradually scale up their digital initiatives after moving past the proof-of-concept stage. Although this past year brought many difficulties, it also provided an opportunity to revise and re-evaluate foundations moving forward. The Great Reset, as the World Economic Forum has dubbed this time period, is illuminating how the chemical industry might leverage digital technologies to advance. Whether prompted by governmental requirements or consumer desires, chemical businesses' net-zero ambitions will necessitate new expenditures throughout the whole chemical value chain. As a result, back-office costs must be as efficient as possible to free up money to pay for those investments while keeping a profit. Consumer pull The most essential requirements for the success of a new product are a solid understanding of customer needs and wants, the competitive climate, and the makeup of the market. The primary factors that influence the needs of the consumer are price, timing, and quality. Therefore, companies create ongoing procedures and plans with these three factors in mind to better serve client needs and grow their market share by regularly creating new products. Technology pushes The influence of digital technology is constantly growing. One of the foundational elements of 21st-century sources of growth is data-driven innovation. There are numerous items and procedures in the history of innovation that were the result of an accident or careful forethought. Vast volumes of data, or "big data," are being produced and used as a result of the convergence of numerous phenomena, including the growing migration of socio-economic activities on the Internet and the decline in the cost of data collecting, storage, and processing. Large data sets are becoming an essential resource for the economy, supporting the development of new markets, procedures, and goods while also generating substantial competitive advantages. For example, a billion customers can now access broadband at a reasonable price because of the digital world's supporting infrastructure. In addition, cloud computing and the enormous amount of information processing equipment it needs are developing swiftly, and low-cost connected gadgets are being introduced into every industry. Economic benefits The financial gains that can be realized through digitization are genuine. The new digital technologies and businesses have seen an influx of cash, and the public markets are rewarding early adopters with record values. The effects of digitization are spreading swiftly throughout every business. Digitization is the changing of life and work as a result of new technologies, not only their acceptance. Much like earlier technologies, modern emerging technologies like the cloud and big data quickly become part of businesses' operations. Unknown to many, this is having a much more significant impact on the industry that makes these tools as well as on customers. Digitalization that derives from and includes strategic business objectives can greatly benefit chemical firms. Cost savings of roughly 30 to 40 percent can already be made on average today. Additionally, in certain situations, digitalization aided in improving service quality and affected the bottom line by, for instance, enabling new business models. On average, platform-driven digitization projects pay off after 18 months.

Read More
Chemical Management

Energy portfolio restructuring: Charting the future

Article | July 22, 2021

Consumer needs and preferences in the energy industry are evolving. Environmental, social and governance (ESG) concerns are becoming more acute—inspiring action and shifting value towards low-carbon solutions. These trends accelerated in 2020 and for the first time, market capitalization of leading low-carbon solutions companies began to overtake those of oil and gas (O&G) majors. This is despite the majors laying out energy transition strategies, setting low carbon energy targets and generating higher revenues by an order of magnitude.1 In response to this radically changing landscape, energy companies are charting divergent courses for their futures. Some continue to bet on their ability to generate returns from the O&G value chain. They are focusing on growing margins and lowering carbon intensity. Others are supplementing their capabilities with low-carbon energy solutions or exiting hydrocarbons altogether. This blog focuses on the path forward for the energy majors in Europe who are betting big on diversification.

Read More
Chemical Technology

How Leading Chemical Companies Protect Customer Data Online

Article | August 8, 2022

Cybersecurity concerns must be considered in order for the chemical sector to succeed with digital commerce; simply listing your products on an online store and crossing your fingers won't cut it. It is crucial to pick a spouse who is aware of these hazards and has a strong defense in place. It is evident that the sector has massive potential for online sales, but selling chemicals online is different from selling common consumer goods online. Who your consumers are and how you gather and maintain data about them raise severe security and privacy problems. Chemical company leaders have every right to be concerned about the privacy of their data, given that one cyber attack occurs every 11 seconds. However, they should still go online because there is too much business risk in not taking advantage of the digital opportunity. Deloitte estimates that the chemical sector alone sold over $27 billion worth of goods online in 2020. More than half (58%) of chemical purchasers reportedly stated that they would transfer providers if their demands, which include demands for a fantastic digital experience, were not delivered. The objective is to limit risk and create a secure digital sales environment rather than dismissing e-commerce due to cybersecurity issues. Setting up the appropriate IT infrastructure: Building for convenience and security is possible thanks to new IT technologies. Emphasis on confirming identification: Always be aware of who you are dealing with, regardless of whether they came through a digital or physical means. Offering simple (and safe) reorder alternatives to clients that have been verified. It's ideal for business owners in the chemical sector who want to test selling online but are concerned about data collecting, security, and privacy for my company and customers.

Read More
Chemical Technology

Guyana-Suriname basin: Rise from obscurity to super potential

Article | May 13, 2021

Recent discoveries in the Guyana-Suriname basin attest to estimates of 10+ Bbbl of oil resources and more than 30 Tcf of gas.1 Like many oil & gas successes, this is a story that begins with early exploration success onshore, followed by a long period of exploration disappointment in coastal to shelf regions offshore, eventually culminating in deepwater success.

Read More

Spotlight

Flowserve Corporation

Flowserve is one of the world's largest manufacturers of pumps, valves and seals with over 19,000 employees in over 60 countries. Built on more than 50 world-renowned heritage brands, the equity and customer loyalty we have earned over the past 220 years is the foundation of our leadership position across the globe.

Related News

Tampa fire rescue working to clean up after chemical spill

Tampa | February 20, 2019

Tampa Fire Rescue officials responded to a hazmat situation Wednesday morning on Columbus Drive. According to a press release, a tanker trunk was transferring a cleaning chemical to another storage tank, which caused a chemical reaction and spill from the top of the holding tank. Residents next to the complex were moved to another place while crews cleaned up the spill, and the leak was stopped by 9:20 a.m. The shelter order was lifted, and residents were allowed back shortly thereafter. Two workers were seen at the hospital for observation following the spill, but there were no reported injuries. Crews are working to neutralize and clean up the chemicals, and there is currently no threat to the surrounding area or public, fire rescue officials say.

Read More

A catalyst for ‘greener’ hydrogen production

The Chemical Engineer | January 14, 2019

A RESEARCHER at the University of Delaware (UD), US has patented a process that could enable greener production of hydrogen. The process uses electricity and a copper-titanium (Cu-Ti) catalyst to make hydrogen from water. Hydrogen is an energy carrier and can be used to power fuel cells in vehicles, buildings, and other infrastructure. It can also be used to upcycle biomass, such as straw and grasses, into high-value chemicals to produce a range of products, such as plastics, paint, and personal care items. However, using hydrogen for these purposes is challenged by the unsustainable methods required for hydrogen production. Currently, the main processes for production use fossil fuels and produce carbon dioxide.

Read More

NGOs demand release of REACH studies submitted as confidential under TSCA

Chemical Watch | December 20, 2018

A coalition of NGOs has filed a public records request demanding the release of REACH studies submitted to the US EPA under TSCA that are being withheld as confidential. And the NGO action could represent an early test to the EPA's interpretation of what types of information can be protected as CBI under the law. At issue is the first of ten draft risk evaluations issued under the reformed TSCA, which focuses on pigment violet 29. Released to some controversy last month, the draft proposes to conclude that the substance does not pose an unreasonable risk to human health or the environment.

Read More

Tampa fire rescue working to clean up after chemical spill

Tampa | February 20, 2019

Tampa Fire Rescue officials responded to a hazmat situation Wednesday morning on Columbus Drive. According to a press release, a tanker trunk was transferring a cleaning chemical to another storage tank, which caused a chemical reaction and spill from the top of the holding tank. Residents next to the complex were moved to another place while crews cleaned up the spill, and the leak was stopped by 9:20 a.m. The shelter order was lifted, and residents were allowed back shortly thereafter. Two workers were seen at the hospital for observation following the spill, but there were no reported injuries. Crews are working to neutralize and clean up the chemicals, and there is currently no threat to the surrounding area or public, fire rescue officials say.

Read More

A catalyst for ‘greener’ hydrogen production

The Chemical Engineer | January 14, 2019

A RESEARCHER at the University of Delaware (UD), US has patented a process that could enable greener production of hydrogen. The process uses electricity and a copper-titanium (Cu-Ti) catalyst to make hydrogen from water. Hydrogen is an energy carrier and can be used to power fuel cells in vehicles, buildings, and other infrastructure. It can also be used to upcycle biomass, such as straw and grasses, into high-value chemicals to produce a range of products, such as plastics, paint, and personal care items. However, using hydrogen for these purposes is challenged by the unsustainable methods required for hydrogen production. Currently, the main processes for production use fossil fuels and produce carbon dioxide.

Read More

NGOs demand release of REACH studies submitted as confidential under TSCA

Chemical Watch | December 20, 2018

A coalition of NGOs has filed a public records request demanding the release of REACH studies submitted to the US EPA under TSCA that are being withheld as confidential. And the NGO action could represent an early test to the EPA's interpretation of what types of information can be protected as CBI under the law. At issue is the first of ten draft risk evaluations issued under the reformed TSCA, which focuses on pigment violet 29. Released to some controversy last month, the draft proposes to conclude that the substance does not pose an unreasonable risk to human health or the environment.

Read More

Events