In The News
Is Modular Right For Your Project?
Modular construction provides many benefits, but the decision to go modular should be thoroughly investigated Modular construction, which includes projects from small- and large-scale process systems to pilot plants to entire modular facilities, is a growing trend in the chemical…
Slash costs with this advanced sulfuric-acid alkylation process
Alkylate — the main component in high-octane gasoline — is produced by catalytic reaction of C3–C5 olefins with isobutane in the presence of strong acid catalyst. Although there has been progress in the use of solid-acid catalysts (see, for example,…
Making hydrogen (and carbon) by cracking methane in molten metal
A process that converts methane into hydrogen and carbon black has been developed by researchers at the Institute for Advanced Sustainability Studies (IASS; Potsdam; www.iass-potsdam.de) and the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT; Karlsruhe, both Germany; www.kit.edu). In a joint project…
These robust organosilane-based membranes promise benefits
A new desalination membrane has been developed by an industry-academia collaboration team, led by professor Toshinori Tsuru at Hiroshima University (Japan; http://home.hiroshima-u.ac.jp/membrane/en/index.html). The work is the culmination of a five-year project that began in 2011 with support from the Japan…
Progress on E.U. project to produce rare earth elements from Greenland
A refinery pilot test was successfully completed on the Kvanefjeld rare-earth (RE) project located in the southern tip of Greenland, about 10 km from Narsaq. The project is wholly owned by Greenland Minerals and Energy Ltd. (Perth, Western Australia; www.ggg.gl).…
Chementator Briefs
Ultrafiltration A new ultrafiltration fiber can increase permeability by 35% compared to previous generation fibers for wastewater treatment, according to developer Dow Water & Process Solutions (Midland, Mich.; www.dow.com). The XP Fiber was incorporated into the companys commercial UF modules,…
Fluor completes Shell’s Quest carbon-capture project in Alberta; and more business news
Plant Watch Ineos to import ethane to ExxonMobil ethylene plant in Scotland November 10, 2015 — Ineos (Rolle, Switzerland; www.ineos.com) will supply ethane from its new import terminal in Grangemouth, Scotland from U.S. shale gas for the ExxonMobil-owned Fife Ethylene…
Large-scale production of carbon nanotubes
Last month, Zeon Corp. (Tokyo, Japan; www.zeon.co.jp) started up the worlds first mass-production plant for high-grade carbon nanotubes (CNTs) at its Tokuyama facility in Shunan City, Yamaguchi Prefecture, Japan. The plant produces CNTs with more than 99% purity using the…
Bioelectrochemical system treats wastewater and generates biogas
The first full-scale installation of a unique bioelectrochemical wastewater-treatment system was recently started up at a California brewery. The system, known as the EcoVolt Reactor, was developed by Cambrian Innovation Inc. (Boston, Mass.; www.cambrianinnovation.com). EcoVolt Reactor is a microbial reactor…
43rd Kirkpatrick Award: Winner Announced
Five companies are honored for innovation in chemical engineering Last month at the Chem Show (New York, N.Y.; November 17–19), Chemical Engineering ( CE) had the pleasure of honoring this year's finalists and the winner of the 2015 Kirkpatrick Chemical…