The hottest Chemicals Substack posts right now

Britain's chemicals industry is rapidly shrinking, with long-standing plants for things like soda ash and ammonia closing and domestic salt production now at risk.
Salt is a surprisingly vital raw material that feeds into many everyday and high-tech products, from glass and paper to the chemicals used in semiconductors and batteries.
This points to a bigger trade-off: do we prioritise cheap imports or keep strategic manufacturing at home, and do we really understand how global supply networks are configured?

Jafurah in Saudi Arabia is a huge natural gas project with massive investments to increase production significantly by 2030.
Technological advancements have made natural gas production economically viable, with potential for further investment and development.
Natural gas can serve as a direct substitute for oil in various applications, contributing to energy efficiency and market dynamics.

PFAS chemicals are being found everywhere and pose a threat to humans and the environment.
Nanoplastics are present in bottled water and could have potential health impacts.
The decline in North America's bird population is mainly due to human-made causes like habitat loss and climate change.

Minnesota uses 445,000 tons of salt on roads annually, equivalent to a stadium-sized pile.
A teaspoon of salt can pollute five gallons of water, leading to water contamination.
High salt levels have impaired 50 lakes and streams in Minnesota and threaten 75 more.

DuPont started as a company selling explosives before pivoting to synthetic polymer chemistry in the 1920s, leading to significant innovations like Nylon and Teflon.
Chemours was spun off from DuPont due to the controversy around environmental issues related to Teflon, resulting in significant legal liabilities.
Despite its reputation as a specialty chemicals company, DuPont's financial reports show challenges in generating high profits, possibly due to a focus on commoditized products and significant settlements.

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Crude oil is essentially old biomass with reduced oxygen, yielding aliphatic and aromatic hydrocarbons.
Abundant alternative feedstocks include cellulose, chitin, and lignin, offering potential for bioeconomy.
Challenges in utilizing cellulose and lignin involve cost-effective isolation of sugars and efficient depolymerization for various applications.

Train derailments involving hazardous chemicals occur frequently and pose significant risks to communities.
Enforcement of regulations by agencies like the EPA and DOT is crucial for preventing future incidents.
Long-term solutions to reduce these incidents may require shifting towards safer, more sustainable practices in the chemical industry.

PFAS can move from non-stick pans to food while cooking. Research shows that this transfer can vary widely, depending on how often the pan is used.
Cooking multiple meals with a non-stick pan can lead to higher levels of PFAS in your food. Studies suggest that even cooking just 4 meals a day might put people over the safe limit for PFAS exposure.
Using salt in food can increase the amount of PFAS that transfers from the pan to the meal. Additionally, reusing the same pan seems to boost PFAS levels in each successive meal.

Chemicals sector is crucial for our modern world and economy.
Our reliance on chemicals is often unnoticed until accidents or disasters occur.
Understanding the interconnectedness of materials like salt and PVC can help us address environmental challenges.

Melanotan II activates pathways triggered by UV light for sunless tanning.
Melanotan II binds to different melanocortin receptors resulting in various effects like nausea and sexual arousal.
Palatin Technologies developed bremelanotide from Melanotan II for treating sexual dysfunction without tanning effects.