An adhesive developed by Michigan State University and the American Chemistry Council could make it easier to join materials in the manufacturing process and to separate them at the end-of-life stage, said Sandra McClelland of Solvay Specialty Polymers. "Multimaterial solutions are and will provide OEMs and consumers with the best possible choices for performance, safety, aesthetics and value," she said.

Flowsheet simulators are an effective way for process engineers to design, optimize and troubleshoot various aspects of their operations, writes Andrew Sloley. These simulators do come with limitations, including the need for good data and for the operator to understand which correlations matter.

Brainstorming, combined with thought starters and clear parameters and goals, can help you uncover valuable ideas, writes Lisa Kent. Keep participants informed of relevant background data, and consider bringing in outsiders to broaden perspectives and ask important questions.

The Environmental Protection Agency has extended the public comment period for its proposed repeal of the Waters of the US rule until Sept. 27.

The Rail Customer Coalition, which includes the American Chemistry Council, has written to federal lawmakers and the Surface Transportation Board about service issues with CSX. "This [situation] has put rail-dependent business operations throughout the U.S. at risk of shutting down, caused severe bottlenecks in the delivery of key goods and services, and has put the health of our nation's economy in jeopardy," the coalition wrote.

ExxonMobil has open a facility in Port Allen, La., to make lubricants for aircraft engines as part of an expansion that also saw a chemical plant expansion. The lubricants facility has 15 workers.

Elsevier and the American Chemical Society have launched Chemistry Research Network and ChemRxiv, respectively, as vehicles for accepting papers ahead of peer review. "What I like about the concept is that it enables authors to decide when their work is published," said Benjamin List, editor-in-chief of the journal Synlett.

International Flavors & Fragrances' flavors and fragrance divisions saw a 6% increase in second-quarter net sales, year-over-year, hitting a combined $849.2 million. The fragrance division benefited from both sales growth and recent acquisitions.

Akzo Nobel has won support from activist investor Elliott Management for its plan to spin off its specialty chemicals unit into a separate business. Elliott has agreed to give Akzo Nobel a minimum of three months to pursue the plan.

The Environmental Protection Agency will host a Sept. 7 webinar to discuss five persistent, bioaccumulative and toxic substances it has marked for expedited action. EPA is required to submit a rulemaking proposal for the substances by June 22, 2019.