Earlier this year, the first polylactic acid (PLA) plant based on a new polymerization process was put into service by Synbra Technology in Etten Leur, the Netherlands. The plant — capable of producing up to 5,000 ton/yr of PLA —…
A naphtha-cracking process with improved yield, reduced coking and longer catalyst life is being developed in a five-year Japanese project led by professor Takashi Tatsumi at the Tokyo Institute of Technology (TiTech; www.titech.ac.jp), with participation from the National Institute of…
The first commercial-scale biobutanol plant using the Gevo Integrated Fermentation Technology (GIFT) process is set to come online in mid-2012 at the former site of an ethanol facility in Minnesota. In late January, Gevo (Englewood, Colo.; www.gevo.com) was awarded a…
A new catalyst design, in which gallium atoms are integrated into the zeolite catalyst structure, can increase yields of aromatic compounds from biomass by 40% in a catalytic fast-pyrolysis process. The higher yields of benzene, toluene and xylenes (BTX), as…
A proprietary nanoscale catalyst and an updated engineering design have allowed higher conversion rates for transforming the heaviest fractions of crude oil, known as vacuum residue, into high-value transportation fuels, such as diesel. Developed by UOP LLC (Des Plaines, Ill.;…
This supplier of online near-infrared (NIR) sensors now offers the NIRView process monitoring software. With NIRView, the measurement from the NIR sensor is presented graphically to operators in realtime, giving instant knowledge of the process. NIRView shows trend charts as…
Mixing and melting kettles from this company are rated for full vacuum and for temperatures of 250ËšF. The 185-gal, hemispherical vessels are jacketed for 15-psi steam. A submerged steam calandria is also supplied for additional heating. Both the vessels and…
The Bio aseptic transfer valve is said to set new standards for the safe and clean transfer of sensitive product from process to process. The Bio overcomes issues with traditional methods of transfer where there is a brief time period…
Vegamet 391 with SIL (safety integrity level) qualification is a universal signal-conditioning instrument for a variety of measurement tasks, such as level, gage-and process-pressure measurement. It can also serve as power supply for connected sensors. Vegamet 391 is designed for…
The Becker Emergency Shutdown Valve (ESD) has received third-party certification for compliance with IEC (International Electrotechnical Commission) standard 61508 for functional safety. The designation signifies the ability of the valve to reduce overall process risk. The valve received certification for…