Haldor Topsøe (Lyngby, Denmark; edlinks.chemengonline.com/5826-533) has introduced two new hydroprocessing catalysts, which are based on its proprietary BRIM technology. Both catalysts are nickel-molybdenum types that optimize both hydrogenation at so-called brim sites (situated on the basal-plane of the catalyst) and…
Lanxess Deutschland GmbH (Leverkusen, Germany; edlinks.chemengonline.com/5826-548) has commissioned a parallel reactor for the screening of catalysts use in hazardous reactions, such as phosgenation and chlorination, which are commonly used to make fine chemicals. Up to now, existing automated screening devices…
Scientists at the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (Calif.; edlinks.chemengonline.com/5826-549), Boston College (edlinks.chemengonline.com/5826-550) and MIT (both Mass.; edlinks.chemengonline.com/5826-551) have discovered that by heating a single-walled nanotube of carbon to 3,600°F, its strength is increased by 280%. The discovery is expected to…
The Technical University of Denmark (Lyngby; edlinks.chemengonline.com/5826-552) has received a grant from the A. P. Møller and Chastine McKinney Møller Foundation to develop the world’s most powerful miocroscope. The so-called environmental transmission electron miocroscope is said to be five time…
Last month, Aspen Technology, Inc. (Cambridge, Mass.; edlinks.chemengonline.com/5826-553) launched its new generation of applications for the design, rating and simulation of heat exchangers: Aspen Tasc+, for shell-and-tube heat exchangers, and Aspen Acol+, for air-cooled heat exchangers. Used for optimizing heat…
Last month, Rentech, Inc. (Denver, Co.; edlinks.chemengonline.com/5826-539) signed its first domestic license agreement with DKRW Advanced Fuels LLC (Houston, Tex.; edlinks.chemengonline.com/5826-540) for the use of Rentech’s patented F-T CTL technology (CE, May 2004, p. 23). At the same time, DKRW’s…
Last month, TÜV Anlagantechnik GmbH, Automation, Software and Information Technology (Cologne, Germany) granted protocol-type approval for the Fieldbus Foundation (FF; Austin, Tex.; edlinks.chemengonline.com/5826-541) safety-instrumented-systems (SIS) specifications. The specifications are in compliance with International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) 61508 standard requirements up…
The Technical Research Center of Finland (VTT; Rajamäki; edlinks.chemengonline.com/5826-542) has developed a process to make natural paper additives from starch, which can be used for making high-quality paper that is completely recycleable. The starch-based pigments can be used in conventional…
BASF AG (Ludwigshafen, Germany; edlinks.chemengonline.com/5825-546) has developed a biodegradable plastic that contains 45% polylactic acid, a biodegradable polymer made from corn (CE, November 2003, pp. 42, 43). The remaining component is BASF’s biodegradable plastic, Ecoflex, which is derived from petrochemicals.…
This month, the first field tests will be conducted on a pilot plant, developed by WOW Energy, Inc. (Sugar Land, Tex.; edlinks.chemengonline.com/5825-534), to remove mercury, oxides of sulfur (SOx) and nitrogen (NOx), particulates, heavy metals and volatile organic compounds (VOCs)…