DSM launches new tasty, firm-textured Swiss cheese

Royal DSM NV has launched its latest addition to its Swiss cheese portfolio, DelvoCheese SW-250. Created to answer consumer demand for tasty, ready-to-use Swiss cheese, the new culture delivers excellent flavour, consistent quality, more efficient production and reduced ripening time for mature Emmental-type cheeses.

Swiss cheese continues to grow in popularity worldwide, because of the increasing demand for flavoursome, conveniently-packaged processed cheese, with characteristics such as longer shelf life and improved slice ability. Meanwhile, traditional production processes have struggled to meet the growth in demand for tasty products that can provide these attributes in an affordable, efficient way.

DelvoCheese SW-250 has been developed specifically for the efficient manufacture of mature, firm-textured Emmental-type cheeses, and guarantees consistent end-product quality, sensory profile and signature eye formation while creating cheese with distinctly Swiss, isovaleric and clean notes.

Read More: DSM launches new tasty, firm-textured Swiss cheese

AkzoNobel, MasterPeace colour 100 walls globally

AkzoNobel NV and global peace movement MasterPeace have reached the milestone of creating 100 “walls of connection” in more than 30 cities this year. The 100th mural was painted at the AkzoNobel education centre in Badshahpur, Gurgaon, India.

The partnership was announced with the first mural in Rotterdam, the Netherlands in March of this year, and has since revitalized walls in cities around the world including Jakarta, Indonesia; Quito, Ecuador; London, UK; and Karachi, Pakistan.

Let’s Colour Walls of Connection has demonstrated the power of paint brands, such as Dulux, to uplift communities and make living spaces more livable and enjoyable. In fun and surprising ways, these walls have brought communities together in celebrating unity, kindness and connection.

The 100th mural was painted at one location of AkzoNobel’s education project in India. Named ‘parivartan’, meaning ‘change’, the project has transformed the lives of more than 5,000 children by getting them back into school with bridge education and ensuring they continue their education and improve their grades. The Gurgaon location provides education to children from unprivileged backgrounds.

Read More: AkzoNobel, MasterPeace colour 100 walls globally

Solvay increases natural vanillin capacity; launces new product

Solvay SA said that it is increasing its manufacturing capacity for European natural vanillin by 60 metric tonnes, to meet long-term growth expectations associated with natural food and beverage ingredients. Effective January 2018, and produced in Europe with full traceability from raw material to finished product, this additional capacity is designated to serve Solvay’s global customer base for its natural and clean label universal requirements in food.

At the same time, Solvay launches a newly designed Rhovanil Natural CW product (crystal white) and adds two new grades of Vanifolia to its natural solutions portfolio.

Solvay’s innovative Rhovanil Natural CW will reinforce Solvay’s market position as the reference for natural vanillin. Derived using a proprietary process from non-GMO rice, it is an enabler of a range of new Vanifolia solutions designed to address specific market needs. One of the newly developed grade meets the growing demand of one-on-one natural vanillin substitutes for synthetic vanillin across all food segments.

Read More: Solvay increases natural vanillin capacity; launces new product

K+S to shut down potash plant in Germany

K+S AG has decided to terminate potash production at the Sigmundshall site (Hanover region, Germany) at the end of 2018.

Reserves that can be commercially mined are coming to an end. Mining conditions for extracting the raw materials at a depth of more than 1,400 meters are reaching human and technological limits. In talks with workforce representatives and the trade union, new prospects and solutions are being discussed for the approximately 730 employees of the site.

“The decision to close the plant is not an easy one for us when we consider the workforce, which has done everything to make its site successful. But all those involved have known for a long time that the crude salt reserves of the Bokeloh salt deposit are dwindling. Mining conditions are becoming more and more demanding,” said Dr Burkhard Lohr, chairman of the K+S board of executive directors. 

Read More: K+S to shut down potash plant in Germany

Fluor completes sweet gas project ahead of schedule

Fluor Corporation (FLR) said that mechanical completion has been achieved on the Sunrise 04-26, Tower 03-07 and Saturn 15-27 sweet gas plants for the Cutbank Ridge Partnership (CRP) program in Dawson Creek, Canada.

The CRP program encompasses the Sunrise 04-26, Tower 03-07 and Saturn 15-27 plants. Fluor has been involved in the program’s initial phases and provided engineering, procurement and construction management services for the CRP program.

Construction of the Sunrise 04-26, Tower 03-07 and Saturn 15-27 facilities was completed safely and with no lost-time incidents in just over two years. The projects were completed weeks ahead of schedule and approximately 10 percent under budget, the company said.

“By leveraging the synergies gained from executing three projects simultaneously, the team designed standardized modules, used automation tools and sourced from global suppliers to drive cost and schedule benefits to the program,” said Mark Fields, president of Fluor’s energy & chemicals business in the Americas.

Read More: Fluor completes sweet gas project ahead of schedule

Honeywell technology used to expand KIPIC Al-Zour refinery

Honeywell International Inc (HON) said that Kuwait Integrated Petroleum Industries Company (KIPIC) will use a range of process technologies from Honeywell UOP for the expansion of its refining and petrochemical complex at Al-Zour, Kuwait.

Honeywell UOP will supply technology licenses, design services, key equipment, and state-of-the-art catalysts and adsorbents to produce clean-burning fuels, paraxylene, propylene and other petrochemicals.

The project includes 50,000 barrels per day (bpd) resid fluid catalytic cracking (RFCC) complex with ethylene and propylene recovery and a 24,000 bpd Honeywell UOP Selectfining unit to produce low-sulphur gasoline.

Two Honeywell UOP Merox units will be used to treat propane for propylene production, and isobutane to make clean-fuels blending components, including methyl tert-butyl ether (MTBE) produced by a UOP Ethermax unit. Also included is a Butamer unit to convert normal butane to isobutane.

The contract also includes a 66,000 barrel-per-day (bpd) CCR Platforming unit with a 74,000-bpd naphtha hydrotreater to make gasoline blendstock, and an LD Parex aromatics complex – including the Honeywell UOP Sulfolane, Isomar and Tatoray processes – to make 1.4 million metric tonnes per year of paraxylene, a primary ingredient in plastics.

Read More: Honeywell technology used to expand KIPIC Al-Zour refinery

Archroma's EarthColors selected by G-Star RAW for denim jeans

 Archroma announced its first-ever collaboration with G-Star RAW. G-Star RAW recently introduced a new capsule collection of denim coloured using Archroma’s EarthColors, a range of dyes made from recycled plant waste.

Archroma’s EarthColors is a line of patented plant-based dyes, sourced from up to 100 percent renewable resources. Archroma developed EarthColors using non-edible waste products, from agriculture and herbal industries, to replace petroleum-derived raw materials; which are the conventional raw materials used to synthesize dyes currently.

This gives brands an alternative when looking for more natural ways of dyeing garments. The three gorgeous colours available in the capsule collection: ‘Dark Plum’, ‘Asfalt’ and ‘Mazarine Blue’, are made from the non-edible parts of beetroot and saw palmetto, left over from agriculture industry or herbal extraction.

Recently the Archroma’s EarthColors were also selected by Kathmandu for its signature hoodies.

Read More: Archroma's EarthColors selected by G-Star RAW for denim jeans

Novamont doubles biopolyesters production in Italy

Novamont has launched the second phase of the project to redevelop the Mater-Biopolymer plant in Patrica (FR), doubling the production capacity of the ORIGO-BI family of biopolyesters. These are used to improve the technical, economic and environmental properties of MATER-Bi biodegradable and compostable bioplastics.

Together with the development of new chemicals and production processes, this has given a strong new impetus to upstream integration of the Novamont production line.

In 2009, the Mater-Biopolymer plant in Patrica (Italy) belonged to Mossi & Ghisolfi (M&G), had two PET production lines and had stopped production on one line. From 2009, a partnership enabled Novamont to start working on gradually converting this line to its technology. In 2011, the first continuous plant for production of ORIGO-BI – biodegradable polyesters obtained from monomers from vegetable oils was inaugurated.

Read More: Novamont doubles biopolyesters production in Italy

BASF opens world-scale chemical catalysts plant in China

BASF SE has officially opened its new, world-scale chemical catalysts manufacturing plant in Caojing, Shanghai, China. The new plant is BASF’s first chemical catalysts manufacturing facility in the Asia Pacific region.

The BASF wholly-owned plant is located in the Shanghai Chemical Industry Park (SCIP) in Caojing. It will serve the growing chemical industry in China and around the Asia Pacific region, with base metal catalysts and absorbents. The plant will be highly automated and energy efficient.

Leveraging experience from the eleven chemical catalyst manufacturing sites around the world, the new plant will use cutting-edge production technologies to manufacture innovative catalysts and adsorbents.

The new site will be supported by the new process catalyst R&D centre, located within the BASF Innovation Campus Asia Pacific in Pudong, Shanghai, which is focusing on the development of new process catalyst to meet specific needs in Asia.

“The start of our new, world-scale production plant for chemical catalysts in Shanghai represents a milestone for our process catalysts business. 60 percent of the world’s chemical production will happen in Asia by 2020, with more than half of this in China,” said Detlef Ruff, BASF’s senior vice president, process catalysts.

Read More: BASF opens world-scale chemical catalysts plant in China

Clariant presents new trends to personal care industry in India

Clariant for the first time in India has introduced its nature-inspired new active ingredients to provide dedicated, customized support for the highly-specialized needs of the personal care industry at the symposium in Delhi.

Clariant also highlighted the four new trends with its BeautyForward second edition, that is expected to impact global personal care with inspirational formulations and textures.

The active ingredients team presented Eosidin the first solution for indoor pollution control. Indoor pollution is the accumulation of heavy metals and other materials inside your home. Eosidin specifically targeting atopic-prone skin conditions triggered by indoor pollution.

The team also presented lightening active ingredients - Alpha Melight, HodVital, MadeWhite, that decrease the melanin content responsible for skin colour and pigmented spots. Clariant offers an array of products, that can be categorized in environment protection, moisturizing, hair care, slimming, skin repair, anti-aging, lightening, oily skin, soothing and uniformization.

Read More: Clariant presents new trends to personal care industry in India

BASF, Pulead materials license agreement for lithium-ion batteries

BASF SE has granted Pulead Technology Industry a sub-license under Argonne National Laboratory (ANL) patents related to nickel-cobalt-manganese (NCM) cathode materials for lithium-ion batteries.

NCM cathode materials are used for cost-effective high energy, safety and long-life batteries for many applications including e-mobility. Pulead is now licensed to make, use, sell, offer to sell, distribute and import the NCM cathode materials in US market.

“BASF is the only licensee of ANL’s prominent NCM cathode materials patents with the ability to grant sub-licenses. We are pursuing a sub-licensing strategy to other industry players so that NCM customers can be able to continue their business with the full respect to intellectual property and technology innovation, and end-users can benefit from this innovation. Customers may continue to use existing product platforms unimpeded through the supply from licensed suppliers,” said Jeffrey Lou, senior vice president of BASF’s global battery materials. 

Read More: BASF, Pulead materials license agreement for lithium-ion batteries

H B Fuller opens new automotive competence centre in Germany

H B Fuller (FUL) has opened its new “automotive competency centre” in Mannheim, Germany. This facility includes an applications laboratory, expanded sales, customer and technical service office space, representing the company’s commitment to invest in its capabilities in the automotive industry.

The automotive competency centre expands H B Fuller’s capability to develop and manufacture hot melt, water based, solvent based, reactive and film adhesive technologies for various automotive trim, structural, lighting, electronics, and electric vehicle and battery applications. New application machinery, testing equipment, laboratory capabilities and space facilitate expanded customer engagement in innovation from concept to prototyping to final design.

From this facility, adhesive experts with decades of experience and deep, diverse knowledge of the automotive industry will work closely with OEM and tier 1 customers to meet their design and production challenges.

Read More: H B Fuller opens new automotive competence centre in Germany

Sadara, Gulf Interchem to build by-product recycling unit in Jubail

Sadara Chemical Company (Sadara) has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Gulf Interchem, a Bahrain-based technology company to focus on innovating in the field of low-value chemical by-product recycling, for a by-products upgrade project based in PlasChem Park, Jubail.

Under the terms of the non-binding agreement, Gulf Interchem will build an integrated treatment plant to recover valuable molecules from Sadara by-products and convert them into fine chemicals that can be used in the production of speciality chemicals such as corrosion inhibitors, adhesives, lubricants and others.

The plant will be the first of its kind serving the Jubail petrochemical industry in the recycling of by-products and will help import new technologies for managing by-products. It will also generate value for Sadara through the recycling of its low-value by-products streams, increasing the value of exports, creating jobs and contributing to Sadara’s environmental protection efforts by reducing waste disposal and the company’s carbon footprint.

Read More: Sadara, Gulf Interchem to build by-product recycling unit in Jubail

Evonik to acquire 3M’s additive compounding business

Evonik Industries has signed a corresponding agreement to acquire 3M’s high-concentrates additive compounding business. The speciality chemicals group is further expanding its capabilities in the highly profitable business with speciality additives.

Evonik already offers a variety of additives to the plastics industry, and the acquisition will enable the company to now also offer solid additives.

The transaction enhances the enterprise’s capabilities in speciality additives – one of its key areas of business growth. The transaction is expected to close in the first quarter 2018.

The deal includes the Accurel brand product portfolio which is produced in Obernburg (Bavaria, Germany) as well as the Obernburg production facility with approximately 25 jobs which will be retained. The high-concentrates additive compounding technology allows plastic manufacturers to introduce large volumes of additives into a polymer matrix via a solid polymer carrier. This will enable Evonik to target new applications, for instance, the packaging industry. These operations are to be incorporated into Evonik’s interface & performance business Line.

Read More: Evonik to acquire 3M’s additive compounding business

DSM to expand capacity of high performance plastics

Royal DSM said that it is in the process of expanding the capacity of its speciality polymers plants in Emmen and Geleen, the Netherlands. DSM Engineering Plastics is responding to strong customer demand in high-temperature polyamides (PAs) and thermoplastic copolyesters (TPC) with this expansion.

DSM Engineering Plastics capacity expansion follows solid growth in consumer electronics and automotive markets and the related increasing demand for high-performance plastics such as Stanyl (PA46), ForTii (PA4T), EcoPaXX (PA410) and Arnitel (TPC).

The investment underlines DSM’s commitment to the industry and strengthens its long-term position as a leader in the high-performance plastics market.

Read More: DSM to expand capacity of high performance plastics

Gelest appoints former Honeywell VP as new CEO

Gelest Inc has appointment Ken Gayer as its new chief executive officer (CEO).   

Most recently, Gayer served as business president of Honeywell Specialty Products of Honeywell International. Gayer brings more than 20 years of global chemical industry leadership experience to his new role at Gelest.

Prior to his latest role, he had a long tenure at Honeywell in a variety of leadership positions including VP and general manager at Honeywell Fluorine Products; VP of procurement, customer service, trade compliance, transportation and logistics; and global business director of foam and industrial products.

Barry Arkles, who founded Gelest, will remain with Gelest as chief technology officer and as chairman of the board of directors.

In his role as CEO, Gayer will oversee Gelest’s operations across its product portfolio and end markets. He will be based at Gelest’s corporate headquarters in Morrisville, PA.

Read More: Gelest appoints former Honeywell VP as new CEO

Grace licenses UNIPOL process technology to KIPIC

W R Grace & Co (GRA) has contracted to license its UNIPOL PP process technology to Kuwait Integrated Petroleum Industries Company (KIPIC) for the integrated petrochemical complex at its Al-Zour refinery.

Expected to open in 2023, the facility is designed to produce 940 kilotons per year of PP, including high-end homopolymer, random copolymer, and impact copolymer thermoplastic resins.

KIPIC is a subsidiary of Kuwait Petroleum Corporation (KPC), Kuwait’s national oil company. A long-time Grace customer, KPC previously licensed UNIPOL PP process technology for an affiliate’s joint venture.

Grace's all gas-phase UNIPOL PP process technology provides the most advanced and broadest range of homopolymers, random copolymers, and impact copolymers in the industry. As the simplest of all PP process technologies, with fewer moving parts and less equipment than any alternative, its reliable, stable, and predictable operation leads to lower capital, operating, and maintenance costs.

Read More: Grace licenses UNIPOL process technology to KIPIC

ExxonMobil starts oil production at Hebron Field

ExxonMobil Corporation (XOM) has started production at its Hebron 
project ahead of schedule. At its peak, the project will produce up to 150,000 barrels of oil per day.

Discovered in 1980, the Hebron field is estimated to contain more than 700 million barrels of recoverable resources. The Hebron platform consists of a stand-alone gravity-based structure, which supports an integrated topsides deck that includes living quarters and drilling and production facilities. The platform has a storage capacity of 1.2 million barrels of oil.

The platform is located about 200 miles (350 kilometres) offshore Newfoundland and Labrador in water depths of about 300 feet (92 meters).

During its eight-year engineering, construction and startup phase, the Hebron project contracted hundreds of vendors throughout the province of Newfoundland and Labrador and created about 7,500 jobs during the peak of the construction phase. The project achieved more than 40 million hours without a lost-time injury during construction.

Hebron is operated by ExxonMobil affiliate, ExxonMobil Canada Properties, which holds 35.5 percent equity in the project. Chevron Canada Limited holds 29.6 percent interest, Suncor Energy Inc holds 21 percent, Statoil Canada Ltd has 9 percent and Nalcor Energy-Oil and Gas Inc has 4.9 percent.

Read More: ExxonMobil starts oil production at Hebron Field

KBR bags FEED contract for Statoil's Northern Lights project

KBR Inc (KBR) has been awarded a concept and FEED (front-end engineering design) contract by Statoil ASA for their ground-breaking Northern Lights project, to develop an onshore carbon dioxide (CO2) storage terminal in Norway.

The terminal is a key component of the carbon capture and storage (CCS) demonstration project being undertaken by Gassnova, where Statoil, in partnership with Shell and Total, are responsible for transport and storage.

The work will be performed by KBR in conjunction with its Granherne subsidiary.  In addition to the CO2 storage terminal, the engineering scope will address the import jetty topsides, the CO2 re-injection lines and associated utilities.

Construction of the full-scale project including the onshore terminal is subject to the Norwegian parliament making a positive investment decision, scheduled for 2019.

The first phase of this project will provide storage for up to 1.5 million tonnes of CO2 per year. CO2 captured from onshore industrial plants in Eastern Norway, will be transported by ship to the onshore terminal. The project will allow for further expansion to receive additional CO2 volumes, with the aim of stimulating new commercial carbon capture projects in Norway, Europe and other countries around the world.

Read More: KBR bags FEED contract for Statoil's Northern Lights project

Gazprom signs €1 billion loan agreement with Japanese, US banks

Gazprom has signed a five-year €1 billion credit facility agreement with Japan's Mizuho Bank Ltd (Mizuho), Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation (SMBC) and US-based JP Morgan Chase Bank NA (JP Morgan).

The document was signed by Andrey Kruglov, deputy chairman of the Gazprom management committee; Nobuhide Hayashi, chairman of Mizuho; Yasuhiko Hashimoto, joint head of Europe, Middle East and Africa, Mizuho; Yasuyuki Kawasaki, deputy president, head of international banking unit, SMBC; Kenichi Hosomi, managing executive officer, deputy head of international business unit, SMBC; and Yan Tavrovsky, president of CB JP Morgan Bank International (LLC).

Read More: Gazprom signs €1 billion loan agreement with Japanese, US banks 

Covestro appoints KION board member as new CFO

Covestro AG has appointed Dr Thomas Toepfer (45) as the company’s new chief financial officer (CFO). He will take over the position from Patrick Thomas, effective on 1 April 2018. Since June 2017, Patrick Thomas has been interim CFO in addition to his function as CEO. 

Toepfer has been a member of the executive board (CFO and labor director) of KION Group AG since 2012. Before joining KION he served as a member of the managing board, chief financial officer and labor director of STILL GmbH, Hamburg. Previously to this, Toepfer held the position of CFO at Karstadt Warenhaus GmbH from 2008 until 2011.

“By appointing Toepfer, we have been able to secure a highly regarded top executive and expert in the field of finance with many years’ experience and a proven track record in the capital market for our company. He will perfectly strenghten our management team and thus shape the future of Covestro,” said Dr Richard Pott, chairman of the supervisory board, Covestro.

Read More: Covestro appoints KION board member as new CFO

Total starts operation at Brazil’s Libra oil field

Total SA announced first oil from the Libra mega-field, located in ultra-deep waters 180 kilometers offshore Rio de Janeiro, in the pre-salt Santos Basin in Brazil. The floating production, storage and offloading (FPSO) unit Pioneiro de Libra has a capacity of 50,000 barrels of oil.

This start-up of the early production system will generate revenue while also enabling technical data to be collected to optimize the subsequent development phases.

Beyond this early production phase, the Libra development will further continue with the next investment decision for the Libra 1 FPSO with a capacity of 150,000 barrels per day. In the years ahead, other production units of similar capacity will be invested in so that the field can be developed to its full potential. 

The Libra field is operated by Petrobras (40 percent) as part of the international consortium whose other partners are Total (20 percent), Shell (20 percent), CNOOC (10 percent) and CNPC (10 percent).

Read More: Total starts operation at Brazil’s Libra oil field

Ineos to supply first ever US ethane to China in 2019

Ineos has announced a long-term supply agreement with SP Chemicals to deliver ethane from US shale gas to China.

The agreement, which will see US ethane from shale gas shipped to China for the first time, will supply SP Chemicals with a long-term competitive supply of ethane for its industrial production.

The deal will involve the construction of a 95,000cbm capacity ship which is expected to be delivered in 2019. Known in US as a very large ethane carrier (VLEC) it will be the largest ethane carrier in the world, and will ship US ethane from shale gas to SP Chemicals’ new gas cracker facility, currently under construction in Taixing China.

As with the Ineos Dragon ships, this vessel will be operated by Evergas. It will be the first VLEC in their fleet of 23 gas ships. The ship will be built in China under the management of the JACCAR Group.

“This is another world first for Ineos after importing shale gas to Europe in 2015. By bringing in US ethane from shale gas to China for the first time, we are now leading the way in shipping ethane worldwide to meet the needs of an expanding chemicals sector. We are excited to work with a client such as SP Chemicals and we look forward to delivering this historic project,” said David Thompson, CEO of Ineos trading and shipping.

Read More: Ineos to supply first ever US ethane to China in 2019

Grace licenses UNIPOL technology to Oriental Energy in China

W R Grace & Co (GRA) has contracted to license its UNIPOL PP process technology to Oriental Energy (Ningbo) New Material Co Ltd for an expansion at its facility in Ningbo, China.

The two new 400-kiloton capacity lines are expected to begin operations in 2020 to produce homopolymer and random copolymers.

The Ningbo operation is a subsidiary of Oriental Energy Co Ltd, a comprehensive alkane resources operator that develops clean energy and new material for the international market. Oriental Energy previously licensed UNIPOL PP process technology for a 400-kiloton PP line in 2012.

The project represents the 22nd and 23rd UNIPOL PP Process Technology reactor lines licensed in China. With this license, the total design and operating capacity of UNIPOL PP lines in China will exceed 7,500 kilotons per year.

Grace's all gas-phase UNIPOL PP process technology provides the most advanced and broadest range of homopolymers, random copolymers, and impact copolymers in the industry. As the simplest of all PP process technologies, with fewer moving parts and less equipment than any alternative, its reliable, stable, and predictable operation leads to lower capital, operating, and maintenance costs.

Read More: Grace licenses UNIPOL technology to Oriental Energy in China

Sika acquires leading acoustics automotive supplier in Germany

Sika AG has agreed to acquire Faist ChemTec Group, a leading manufacturer of high-performance engineered, structure-borne acoustic solutions for the automotive industry.

Headquartered in Worms, Germany employs 840 people worldwide. The acquisition brings technology and know-how that will accelerate Sika’s growth and drive market penetration via the strong synergies between the two companies.

Faist ChemTec is a renowned company with a trusted brand, comprehensive technical expertise and strong, long-term customer relationships. With six production sites in Europe, North America and Asia, and a pan-European distribution network, it supplies its customers with successful and innovative products. Similar to Sika, its innovations are driven by megatrends such as the increased need for comfort and lightweight construction of vehicles.

“The acquisition fits perfectly with our growth strategy and will significantly enhance our product offerings and technology base for acoustic damping solutions in the automotive market. The manufacturing footprint supports our aim to achieve global reach combined with local presence when serving customers worldwide. We warmly welcome the successful team from Faist ChemTec Group into the Sika family and are excited to work together in the future,” said Paul Schuler, CEO of Sika.

Read More: Sika acquires leading acoustics automotive supplier in Germany

Hikma invests in digital health firm Biolinq

Hikma Pharmaceuticals PLC (Hikma) said that its venture capital arm, Hikma Ventures Limited (Hikma Ventures) has invested in Biolinq, the next generation minimally-invasive biosensor technology company, in collaboration with M Ventures which led the $10 million series A round of financing.

Lana Ghanem, managing director of Hikma Ventures and Edward Kliphuis, investment director of the new businesses fund at M Ventures will be joining the Biolinq board of directors.

Biolinq is a digital health company with a unique, wirelessly-enabled biosensor patch that is capable of continuously monitoring multiple biomarkers. Biolinq’s first commercial product, a unique minimally-invasive technology will allow patients with diabetes to continuously monitor their blood glucose without the pain and hassle of traditional continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) systems.

“Diabetes is a chronic disease affecting millions of people worldwide with a high prevalence in the Middle East and North Africa. We enjoyed working alongside the M Ventures team on closing this investment and we look forward to working with the Biolinq team and our other co-investors to bring this technology to patients,” said Lana Ghanem.

Read More: Hikma invests in digital health firm Biolinq

New method converts carbon dioxide into useful compounds

MIT researchers have developed a new system that could potentially be used for converting power plant emissions of carbon dioxide into useful fuels for cars, trucks, and planes, as well as into chemical feedstocks for a wide variety of products.

The new membrane-based system was developed by MIT postdoc Xiao-Yu Wu and Ahmed Ghoniem, the Ronald Crane professor of mechanical engineering, and is described in the journal ChemSusChem.

The membrane, made of a compound of lanthanum, calcium, and iron oxide, allows oxygen from a stream of carbon dioxide to migrate through to the other side, leaving carbon monoxide behind. Other compounds, known as mixed ionic-electronic conductors, are also under consideration in their lab for use in multiple applications including oxygen and hydrogen production.

Carbon monoxide produced during this process can be used as a fuel by itself or combined with hydrogen and/or water to make many other liquid hydrocarbon fuels as well as chemicals including methanol (used as an automotive fuel), syngas, and so on. Ghoniem’s lab is exploring some of these options. This process could become part of the suite of technologies known as carbon capture, utilization, and storage (CCUS), which if applied to electricity production could reduce the impact of fossil fuel use on global warming.

Read More: New method converts carbon dioxide into useful compounds