A new activated-sludge-treatment process that promises to slash energy consumption is being developed by Sanki Engineering Co., Ltd., (Tokyo, www.sanki.co.jp), in cooperation with Ebara Corp., (Tokyo) and Touhoku University (Sendai, all Japan), and the support of NEDO (New Energy &…
Since the original invention of the steady-stream eyewash over 50 years ago, the accepted practice in the chemical process industries (CPI) and other industrial circles has been to flush the eyes with two, separate, arc-shaped water streams, each one flowing…
Liberty Engineering (Hamburg, N.Y.; www.libertypsa.com) has developed a bioremediation system that fully removes carcinogens from soil in 90 days. The process is based on microbial oxidation of organic compounds by petrophyllic pseudonomads in an oxygen-rich environment. The bacteria are specifically…
QuantumSphere, Inc. (Santa Ana, Calif.; www.qsinano.com) has filed a key patent for technology it has developed, which extends the capacity of rechargeable lithium-ion batteries up to five times, thus offering the potential to increase the operating life of portable consumer…
Last month, Lanxess AG (Leverkusen, Germany; www.lanxess.com) launched Levotan X-Cel, an polymer mixture based on expandable microcapsules, for retannage in leather processing. With a diameter of 5 – 20 µm, the microcapsules are small enough to penetrate into the collagen…
In an effort to increase its operational flexibility, Oxea GmbH (Oberhausen, Germany; www.oxea-chemicals.com) has decided to produce butyric acid at its North American (N.A.) production site in Bay City, Texas. The existing carboxylic-acids production plant will receive significant upgrading in…
BASF Catalysts LLC (Iselin, N.J.; www.basf.com) has completed a significant debottlenecking project that has increased capacity at its production facility in Tarragona, Spain. The 25% capacity increase will help meet growing global demand for polypropylene catalysts. The expansion was completed…
IDEX Corp. (Northbrook, Ill.; www.idexcorp.com) today announced the acquisition of Richter Chemie-Technik (Kempen, Germany), a leading provider of premium quality lined pumps, valves and control equipment for the chemical, fine chemical and pharmaceutical industries. Richter’s corrosion resistant fluoroplastic lined products…
Caloric Anlagenbau GmbH (Munich, Germany; www.caloric.com) has won the contract for another Hydrogen Generation Plant in France. Caloric will provide engineering, procurement and commissioning services for a new hydrogen plant and the corresponding distributed control system (DCS), using Caloric's HC…
ExxonMobil Research and Engineering Co. (Fairfax, Va.; www.exxonmobil.com/refiningtechnologies) has entered into an agreement with Synthesis Energy Systems, Inc. (Houston, Tex.; www.synthesisenergy.com) that provides SES the option to execute up to 15 methanol-to-gasoline (MTG) technology licenses in its global operations. SES…