Chemical Cloud Prompts Emergency Response, Shining Light On Chem Tech Startups

Residents in Wales who reside near the Dow chemical plant in Barry, Vale of Glamorgan, were advised to shut their doors and windows after a white mist cloud emerged from the site, the BBC reports.

The Dow plant has been producing silicone since 1952 and employs about 630 people. A spokesperson from Dow confirmed that there was indeed a chemical release which prompted emergency measures to be taken, and the incident was contained shortly after it was identified.

Dow plans to investigate the causes of the chemical release to implement preventative measures for future incidents.

 

What Is Chem Tech?

 

Chemical Technology or Chem Tech is an industry and field of study that entails chemical principles and processes that enable production, transformation, and utilisation of chemical substances. Many sectors partake and benefit from these discoveries.

Chem Tech involves the manufacturing of chemical products on an industrial scale. This includes basic chemicals such as acids, bases, salts, and more complex compounds that are used in many industries. Ensuring the quality and safety of these products are critical, and involves testing, monitoring, and regulatory compliance.

Chemical technology involves the production and development and new chemical materials and pharmaceutical drugs. Processes are also engineered to improve efficiency and safety whilst reducing waste.

Environmental challenges are also tackled by chem tech innovation with practises like pollution control, waste management, and development of sustainable and renewable energy.

The research and development in chem tech leads to many innovations that solve practical problems in various fields, such as medicine, agriculture, and electricity.
 

 

Chem Tech Startups

 

There are many innovative chem tech startups making impactful waves across industries. These startups offer solutions to help combat issues that were previously thought to be unsolvable. Here are 5 chem tech startups transforming industries like we’ve never seen before.

 

Provivi

 

 

Provivi takes an innovative pheromone-based approach to develop pest control solutions for the agriculture industry. Pheremones are a natural compound produces by insects which affects the behaviour of surrounding creatures.

Provivi’s solutions decreases insect’s reproductive rate by confusing male insects with synthetic pheromones. This method is a sustainable alternative to traditional pesticides and helps farmers protect their crops while maintaining balance in the ecosystem.

 

Belharra Therapeutics

 

 

Belharra Therapeutics is a mission to revolutionise drug discovery through their photoaffinity-based chemoproteomic platform. They aim to make the once-though impossible, possible by targeting any binding site, on any protein, in any cell type.

They target proteins that are considered to be “undruggable” for therapeutic development. This enables them to discover new treatments for diseases that could not effectively receive treatment before.

 

Monolith

Monolith produces clean hydrogen and carbon black by method of methane pyrolysis. This reduces greenhouse gas emissions by large amounts compared to more traditional methods.

Monolith supports the transition to a low-carbon economy as they convert natural gas into products without CO2 being produced, and their efforts contribute to positioning Nebraska as a key player in the global energy transition.

 

Mango Materials

 

 

Mango Materials is turning methane gas into plastic through microbial fermentation. These bioplastics are biodegradable and is made from a naturally occurring bacteria to produce polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA), which is a type of biopolymer.

Mango Material’s sustainable approach to plastic production helps support the circular economy by turning waste into valuable materials that are decomposable. Their bioplastics are an eco-friendly alternative to conventional plastics and minimises the environmental impact of plastic use.

 

Opus 12

 

 

Opus 12 develops technology that transforms carbon dioxide emissions into valuable fuels and useful chemicals. They have a polymer-electrolyte membrane CO2 electrolyser that uses renewable electricity to turn CO2 into products like synthetic fuels and industrial chemicals.

Opus 12 is on a mission to create low-carbon alternatives to fossil fuels by recycling. Their innovation supports the circular economy and works to combat climate change.