In The News
Chementator Briefs
CO2 to formic acid Professor Yutaka Amao and colleagues at Osaka City University (Osaka City, Japan; www.osaka-cu.ac.jp/en) have enhanced the photocatalytic efficiency for the conversion of CO2 to formic acid by up to 20 times. The efficiency boost was achieved…
Modeling and Simulation Move Forward
More tools and fresh applications bring modeling and simulation to all facets of chemical processing Modeling and simulation software is becoming not only more powerful, but also more user friendly and affordable, making it a valuable tool for chemical processors…
Low-cost separation of CO2 from fluegas
A novel solvent can reduce the costs of capturing and recovering carbon dioxide from gas mixtures compared to the use of amine-based solvents, such as monoethanolamine (MEA). The solvent, along with an associated cyclic absorption-desorption process, was developed by Carbon…
Putting more ‘bio’ into biodiesel fuels
Biodiesel fuels are made by the transesterification of plant-derived triglycerides (fats and oils), a process that generates impure glycerin as a byproduct while consuming fossil-fuel-derived methanol. Although there have been efforts in recent years to utilize the large volumes of…
Organomagnesium catalyst isomerizes hydrocarbons
Organomagnesium compounds have become a highly important class of reagents in organic chemistry since the discovery of the Grignard Reaction more than 100 years ago. These compounds are powerful and inexpensive reagents that can be readily prepared from metallic magnesium…
Artificial photosynthesis system demonstrates stability, safety and efficiency
Scientists at the California Institute of Technology’s Joint Center for Artificial Photosynthesis (Caltech JCAP; Pasadena, Calif.; www.caltech.edu) have reported the first system for generating hydrogen gas from water using solar energy that simultaneously achieves high efficiency and oxidative stability along…
A new spin on liquid-gas separation
Last month, Innsep AS (Trondheim; Norway; www.innsep.com) and EagleBurgmann Norway (Skedsmokorset;www.eagleburgmann.no) began a collaboration to develop Innsep’s Lynx Separator technology for protection of EagleBurgmann’s Dry Gas Seal systems for compressors. Lynx is a new technology for removing entrained liquids much…
This filter renders secondhand smoke harmless
A research team, led by Jongsoo Jurng and Gwi-Nam at the Korea Institute of Science and Technology (Seoul; www.kist.re.kr), has developed a nano-catalyst filter that can drastically reduce harmful substances in cigarette smoke. The team created the filter by evenly…
Uranium processing plant benefits from modularity
A modular processing system for the Husab uranium mine in Namibia, Southwest Africa, has been designed and developed by Adelaide Control Engineering (ACE; Australia; www.adlcontrol.com.au). The company’s managing director, Glenn Jobling, says innovative technology and advanced modular design have enabled…
Grace to license Unipol polypropylene technology in South Korea; and more business news
Plant Watch Technip to provide EPC services for Unipetrol HDPE plant September 10, 2015 — Technip (Paris, France; www.technip.com) was awarded a contract by Unipetrol (Prague, Czech Republic; www.unipetrol.cz), covering the engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) of a new polyethylene…