Solvay S.A. (Brussels, Belgium; www.solvay.com) recently announced a new commercial process for synthetic eugenol (diagram), a derivative of phenol, whose natural version is extracted from clove oil obtained from dried flower buds of clove trees grown in Indonesia and Madagascar.…
Self-healing adhesives Researchers at Oak Ridge National Laboratory (Oak Ridge, Tenn.; www.ornl.gov) developed a series of autonomous self-healable and highly adhesive elastomers that are fabricated via a simple, efficient and scalable process. The self-healing elastomers demonstrated unprecedented adhesion strength and…
Honeywell UOP (Des Plaines, Ill.; www.uop.com) has adapted its recycle-split-vapor (RSV) technology for natural-gas liquid (NGL) recovery into a new, modular offering, RSV2, which enables quick retrofitting of existing gas-processing plants with minimal downtime. “The RSV2 technology can increase ethane…
Increasing regulatory requirements mean that proven wood coatings must be reformulated. This company is introducing TEGO Foamex 812, a new defoamer that has an ideal balance of effectiveness and compatibility, while meeting stringent regulatory requirements. The new defoamer meets the…
NanoRam and NanoRam-1064 handheld Raman instruments (photo) are calibrated in compliance with the wavelength accuracy criteria for qualitative Raman measurements set forth by all global pharmacopeias, including the new USP 858 and 1858 chapters. The system software of NanoRam and…
This company has upgraded its range of SSA actuators for small valves by adding new features for more energy-efficient and versatile hydronic-room applications. The updated SSA actuators now offer more flexibility due to their broad control possibilities — from analog…
This overview compares various sealing technologies, and points out advantages and disadvantages of applying different mechanical-sealing designs for caustic fluids Caustic applications in chemical plants can play havoc on the mechanical seals of rotating equipment. These applications can be difficult…
Thermal oxidizers are pollution-control units designed to prevent process-generated volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from entering the environment. Different technologies offer tradeoffs among initial cost, operating expense, complexity, emissions, fuel efficiency and destruction efficiency. This one-page reference provides information on selecting…
This pictorial guide illustrates some of the common problems that can occur with polymeric and elastomeric materials that differ from those that occur with metallic seals and components Failures of polymer (plastic and elastomeric) parts and their consequences can be…
This company’s Cooper split spherical roller bearings (photo), available in open or sealed configurations, are designed for easy replacement with little disturbance to the shaft alignment or driveline and eliminate the need to remove attached equipment. This bearing solution increases…