Foster Wheeler AG (Zug, Switzerland; www.fwc.com) says that a subsidiary of its Global Power Group signed a contract with Shanghai Boiler Works, Ltd. for cooperation in the design of two pulverized coal (PC) steam generators for the Vinh Tan II…
Univar (Brussels, Belgium; www.univar.com), a leading global chemical distributor, announced today it has successfully completed the acquisition of the Quaron business in Belgium and the Netherlands. This step reflects Univar’s commitment to growth and to strengthening its position, reach, service,…
Eurecat SA (La Voulte, France; www.eurecat.com) is constructing a new, world-class catalyst processing plant in India, to be located in the Jhagadiya Industrial Estate, Bharuch District, Gujarat State. This plant will be operated by Eurecat India Catalyst Services, Ltd., a…
CB&I (The Woodlands, Tex.; www.cbi.com) announced that it has acquired Chemical Research and Licensing from CRI/Criterion, a subsidiary of Royal Dutch Shell plc. This acquisition gives CB&I, through its Lummus Technology business sector, a 100% interest in Catalytic Distillation Technologies…
DuPont (Wilmington, Del.; www.dupont.com) has completed its purchase of MECS (St. Louis, Mo.; www.mecsglobal.com) from affiliates of American Securities LLC. The previously announced transaction strengthens the DuPont clean technologies portfolio and will provide access to additional high-growth markets, particularly in…
Researchers at the University of Tokyo (Japan; park.itc.u-tokyo.ac.jp/nishiba/index.html) have developed a new catalyst that enables the direct synthesis of ammonia at ambient conditions. The breakthrough is a step toward an alternative to the energy-intensive, century-old Habar-Bosch process, which requires high…
Two waste products — carbon dioxide and industrial wastes — are combined to obtain marketable mineral products in a process being developed by startup company CarbonX Inc. (Santa Barbara, Calif.; www.carbonxinc.com). The process produces precipitated calcium carbonate (PCC) and silica…
Plant Watch Dow to increase ethane cracking capabilities December 3, 2010 — The Dow Chemical Co. (Midland, Mich.; www.dow.com) plans to increase ethane cracking capabilities on the U.S. Gulf Coast and improve its ethane cracking capabilities by 20–30% over the…
A new system for detecting chemical or biological contaminants in water is made possible by analyzing the swimming pathways of one-celled protozoa that are introduced into the water sample. Alterations of the protozoa’s swimming mechanics, relative to a clean water…
Last month, Outotec Oyj (Espoo, Finland; www.outotec.com) commissioned a new CO2-removal pilot plant at its R&D center in Frankfurt, Germany. The unit compliments the companys circulating, fluidized-bed pilot plant, which is used for cleaning process gas from direct reduction…