Braskem is a Brazilian based petrochemical company with headquarters in Sao Paulo. Braksem is the largest petrochemical company in all the Americas based on production capacity and is ranked number give around the globe. Other countries that house commercial offices include the (more…)

This is the third and final part of my blog on critical metals and cleantech (read Part 1 and Part 2). This one aims to give an overview of where the opportunities are presenting themselves and those that are leading and innovating in the sector today. For many of these metals, processes to recycle (more…)

Is China and its rare earth supply restrictions actually doing cleantech a favor?

On the one hand, limiting the supply of these metals, which are used in the manufacture of many clean technologies, clearly isn’t great for the growth of the low carbon economy.

Swiss-based VC firm Mountain Cleantech says it’s a (more…)

Organized by the same folks responsible for the world famous Film, Interactive and Music festival usually held in early March, SXSWEco brought together many of the world’s brightest minds and most interesting companies to talk about solutions to our social and environmental problems. My mind is still overflowing (more…)

Researchers at the University of Leeds and Durham University have solved a long-standing problem that could revolutionize the way new plastics are developed. The breakthrough will allow experts to create the perfect plastic with specific uses and properties by using a high-tech ‘recipe book’. It will (more…)

We’re often writing about energy efficiency on Energy Refuge as an important component of energy sustainability. Fortunately, an increasing number of contractors are advancing the green building movement and spreading the adoption of sustainable design, energy efficient construction (more…)

A show of hands – who loved their high school chemistry class? Do you still remember the elements in the periodic table? Quick – what’s the symbol for Iron? How about Hydrogen?

OK. Those are easy: Fe and H.

What about Prometheum? or Ytterbium? (more…)

Seeking to secure reliable supplies of rare earths for the country’s growing industrial demand, South Korea is negotiating to open concessions in South African mines.

South Korea’s Ministry of Knowledge Economy said that the nation is seeking a formal agreement to (more…)

First, the bad news – China’s constrained rare earth supplies will be an “irreversible trend” and prices will remain at high levels, according to Zhang Zhong, general manager of Inner Mongolia Baotou Steel Rare-Earth Hi-Tech Co.

Zhang should know, as his concern is China’s (more…)

A nanoengineered graphene coating could make it possible to generate hydroelectric power without disrupting river ecosystems.

Humans have been harvesting the power of moving water for centuries, from waterwheel’s to hydroelectric dams. The only problem with most of (more…)