In The News
A more sensitive sensor for ions in solution
A research team from the Institute for Photonics and Advanced Sensing, and the School of Chemistry and Physics, the University of Adelaide, South Australia (www.adelaide.edu.au) has combined suspended-core microstructured optical fibers (MOFs) with photoinduced electron transfer (PET) to demonstrate a…
New polysilicon granule-drying system boosts processing yields and purity
A novel cold-dry process makes possible the utilization of fine form-factor silicon, such as granules and sand-like fines, in the production of high-purity polysilicon for solar photovoltaic cells and semiconductors, where such fine-grained material would normally have to be sent…
Iron-based catalyst shows promise for alkene hydrosilylations
A catalyst in which iron atoms are complexed with the ligand pyridine diimine (PDI) has shown promise as a replacement for high-cost platinum-based catalysts for industrial olefin-hydrosilylation reactions. Developed by the research group of Paul Chirik at Princeton University (www.…
Scaleup for a new delignification process
This month, Borregaard Industries Ltd. (Sarpsborg, Norway; www.borregaard.com) will start up an integrated, pilot-demonstration plant to further develop a new pretreatment process for converting biomass into lignin and fermentable sugars. Located at the company’s R&D Center in Sarpsborg, the pilot…
May Chementator briefs
Double-effect coating Researchers at the Leibniz-Instutut für Neue Materialien GmbH (INM; Saarbrücken, Germany; www.inm-gmbh.de) have developed a nanocomposite coating that simultaneously protects against corrosion while having lubrication properties similar to grease and oil. The new material is suitable for coating…
UOP to expand adsorbents and catalysts production at its Alabama facility, and more business news
Plant Watch Petrochemicals expansion project in the U.S. awarded to CB&I April 9, 2012 — CB&I (The Woodlands, Tex.; www.cbi.com) has been awarded a contract by Williams Olefins, LLC for a petrochemicals expansion project in Geismar, La. Plant capacity…
Making structured carbon fibers from polyethylene
Researches at the U.S. Dept. of Energy’s Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL; Oak Ridge, Tenn.; www.ornl.gov) are developing a process that makes carbon fibers with customized surface contours from polyethylene-based fibers. The patent-pending technique uses a combination of fiber-spinning and…
The Sensitive Side of Chemical Processing
As in almost all other aspects of producing chemicals, processors are looking for cost-effective sensing solutions. And they won’t be disappointed by the newest offering of sensors for the chemical process industries (CPI). Gas and pH sensors, as well as…
Municipal solid waste is one feedstock for this bioethanol process
The technology surrounding a hydrolysis- and fermentation-based process that is capable of utilizing municipal solid waste (MSW) and biomass waste to produce cellulosic bioethanol at low cost is now available for licensing from its developer, TMO Renewables Ltd. (Guildford, U.K.;…
New polysilicon granule-drying system boosts processing yields and purity
A novel cold-dry process makes possible the utilization of fine form-factor silicon, such as granules and sand-like fines, in the production of high-purity polysilicon for solar photovoltaic cells and semiconductors, where such fine-grained material would normally have to be sent…