In The News
Making graphene oxide in ‘a microwave’
Microwave irradiation of graphite has been shown to produce graphene oxide with 90% yield by the research group of professor Yuta Nishina, Research Core for Interdisciplinary Sciences, Okayama University (Okayama, www.tt.vbl.okayama-u.ac.jp/archives/809). The yield is not only nearly twice that obtained…
A renewable source for methane
Conventional methanation — the reaction of CO and H2 (synthesis gas) to form methane — has recently become important as a way to produce substitute natural gas (SNG) from gasified coal in regions of the world where natural gas is…
Making cork-like monoliths from graphene
A team from Monash University (Melbourne, Australia; www.monash.edu.au) has prepared graphene monoliths with a cork-like hierarchical structure, exhibiting ultra-low density, superelasticity, good electrical conductivity and high efficiency of energy absorption. The ability to maintain structural integrity upon large deformation is…
A recipe for improved Ti extraction from ilmenite
Existing metallurgical processes for titanium production from ilmenite — by far the most sought-after titanium ore — are plagued by disadvantages, mainly the generation of large amounts of waste, and improvements are needed to treat ilmenite for the production of…
A step toward mineralizing CO2 captured from fluegas
Researchers from Newcastle University (U.K.; www.ncl.ac.uk) have discovered that, in the presence of a nickel catalyst, CO2 can be rapidly and cheaply converted into solid carbonate salts. The discovery could lead to a simpler and less-expensive alternative for carbon capture…
Successful operation of high-pressure, entrained flow gasification
On the way to the production of environment-friendly fuels from biomass residue, the Karlsruher Institut für Technologie (KIT; Karlsruhe, Germany; www.edu), in cooperation with the technology partner Air Liquide Global E&C Solutions, has realized another important milestone: the second process…
Outotec grows its maintenance services by acquiring Scanalyse
Outotec Oyj (Espoo, Finland; www.outotec.com) has signed an agreement to acquire Scanalyse Holdings Pty Ltd., an Australian-based software technology company with operations in Australia, Brazil, Chile and the U.S. Scanalyse provides services in process equipment condition and performance monitoring. The…
Caloric awarded contract to build a methanol reformer in Indonesia
Caloric Anlagenbau GmbH (Gräfelfing, Germany; www.caloric.com) has been awarded a contract for the engineering and manufacturing of a new hydrogen generation plant from a major chemical company in Indonesia once again. The plant will be able to produce 700 Nm³/h…
BASF to open R&D technology center for battery materials in Japan
BASF SE (Ludwigshafen, Germany; www.basf.com) will open a new Research and Development Laboratory and an Application Technology Center for Battery Materials in Amagasaki, Japan. The facilities will be fully operational by the end of 2013. The laboratory will focus on…
Toyo awarded ammonia project in Indonesia
Toyo Engineering Corp. (Toyo; Chiba, Japan; www.toyo-eng.co.jp) has been awarded a contract to build an ammonia plant for PT Panca Amara Utama (PAU), a subsidiary of PT. Surya Esa Perkasa Tbk. (SEP), one of Indonesia’s leading LPG producing companies. The…