Scientists at Brookhaven National Laboratory (BNL; Upton, N.Y.; www.bnl.gov) and the University of Delaware (Newark; www.udel.edu) have designed a catalyst capable of selectively removing oxygen atoms from the side chain of an aromatic compound without affecting the ring. The team…
As new types of water contaminants continue to emerge, such as retinoids and endocrine-disrupting chemicals, wastewater-treatment techniques are evolving to economically handle them. One new process that has shown promise against both conventional and emerging water pollutants integrates two technologies…
Artificial photosynthesis systems seek to harvest sunlight and carbon dioxide to make fuels. Among the many challenges for making solar fuels has been achieving a fast flow of protons from where they are generated to where they combine with CO2…
Launched in March, the E2HR Series Electro-Hydraulic Rotary valve actuators (photo) feature a very small installation envelope for¼-turn valve-actuating applications. All hydraulic components and sensors are integrated into a single compact manifold block that also houses the actuator and integral…
The new Sitrans LR100 series 80 GHz radar transmitters (photo) are compact instruments with a narrow beam for flexible installations in existing vessel openings or even non-intrusively through plastic vessels. The transmitters’ 80-GHz frequency delivers robust, reliable measurements even in…
The Flexflow A1F peristaltic metering pump (photo) is designed for metering off-gassing chemicals, such as sodium hypochlorite and peracetic acid. The pump offers a smooth chemical feed without risk that it will overheat or lose its prime. Furthermore, the pumps…
Despite their nearly universal use in industrial combustion processes, valve trains are not widely understood. Here are some guidelines to help ensure their safe and effective operation Does your manufacturing facility have a smoke stack? If it does, it also…
Wearable technologies help chemical processors improve productivity and safety of workers Wearable technologies — cameras, tablets and other devices loaded with applications (apps) and software that can be attached to the body or personal protective equipment (PPE) — are catching…
This column is based on “Vinyl Chloride Production from Ethylene and Chlorine – Cost Analysis,” a report published by Intratec. It can be found at: www.intratec.us/analysis/vinyl-chloride-production-cost. Vinyl chloride (also known as vinyl chloride monomer, VCM and chloroethene) is an organochloride…
This column is based on “Neopentyl Glycol Production Process – Cost Analysis,” a report published by Intratec. It can be found at: www.intratec.us/analysis/neopentyl-glycol-production-cost. Neopentyl glycol (NPG; 2,2-dimethylpropane-1,3-diol) is an industrially important and versatile diol, mainly employed as a building block…