American materials company, Corning, and coatings company, PPG, have announced that they are working together to release an antimicrobial paint that kills SARS-CoV-2 in less than 2 hours.

What Corning did:

Corning specializes in glass, ceramics, and everything in between. One of its scientists developed a paint additive, using the company's glass-ceramic technology, that holds copper ions inside a ceramic matrix. Those copper ions make quick work of viruses including SARS-CoV-2.

What PPG is doing:

PPG is the largest paints and coatings company in the world (by revenue). While still subject to EPA approval, PPG will incorporate the paint additive into its lineup of offerings. The company's eventual "paint product will be available under the name COPPER ARMOR". Antimicrobial coatings have a huge market—feel free to dive into it here.

Read the press release here.

German chemicals and materials company, Covestro, has announced that it has started-up a pilot plant for a new MDI production process.

Wait, what are they making?

Methylene diphenyl diisocyanate, abbreviated MDI, is typically combined with polyols to produce polyurethanes. Not only can those polyurethanes end up being foams and mattresses, but also as insulation for buildings and refrigerators.

The details:

The new process uses what Covestro calls "adiabatic-isothermal phosgenation", which generates heat during the reaction process. That heat is then used elsewhere in production, allowing for a 40% reduction of steam and a 25% reduction of electricity per ton of MDI. Another bonus is that the "production output increases by 50% compared to the technology currently in use".

Read the press release here.

Japanese-based chemical company, Toray Industries, has announced that it will be supplying reverse osmosis membranes for two plants: one in Bahrain and one in the UAE.

Some context:

Thanks to few freshwater sources and low rainfall, the middle east is home to 70% of the world's desalination plants. Separating salt from water seems simple at first, you can just boil the water off, but it's extremely energy-intensive. Reverse osmosis membranes provide a lower-energy alternative to that typical desalination mechanism.

What does the future hold?

Increasing awareness to reduce greenhouse gas emissions applies to the Middle East as well. As populations rise in the region these countries will need to produce more water with fewer emissions. The two desalination plants (shoutout to Toray's membranes) will jointly produce nearly a million cubic meters of water per day (about enough for 6 million people per day).

Read the press release here.