Last month, TÜV Anlagantechnik GmbH, Automation, Software and Information Technology (Cologne, Germany) granted protocol-type approval for the Fieldbus Foundation (FF; Austin, Tex.; edlinks.chemengonline.com/5826-541) safety-instrumented-systems (SIS) specifications. The specifications are in compliance with International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) 61508 standard requirements up…
The Technical Research Center of Finland (VTT; Rajamäki; edlinks.chemengonline.com/5826-542) has developed a process to make natural paper additives from starch, which can be used for making high-quality paper that is completely recycleable. The starch-based pigments can be used in conventional…
A single-step process for making phenol from benzene and carbon monoxide has been developed by Daicel Chemical Industries, Ltd. (Tokyo; edlinks.chemengonline.com/5826-543) with cooperation from Yasutaka Ishii, professor of applied chemistry at Kansai University (Osaka, Japan; edlinks.chemengonline.com/5826-544). Other attempts to make…
Teijin Twaron B.V. (Arnhem, Netherlands; edlinks.chemengonline.com/5826-556) has introduced a new rubber compound ingredient, tradenamed Sulfron 3000, which leads to a 20% improvement in rolling resistance when used in tires — resulting in a 5% reduction in fuel consumption for vehicles,…
Biotage AB (Uppsala, Sweden; edlinks.chemengonline.com/5826-557) has signed two agreements with Reaxa Ltd. (Manchester, U.K.; edlinks.chemengonline.com/5826-558) to develop and market new catalyst packages for development of fine chemicals. The first agreement is to develop an encapsulated palladium catalyst, based on Reaxa’s…
Last month, Agilent Technologies, Inc. (Palo Alto, Calif.; edlinks.chemengonline.com/5826-546) launched the 1200 Series liquid chromatography (LC) system, replacing its predecessor, the 1100 Series LC. With more than 60 instrument modules available, the 1200 Series can be configured for all major…
Large tracts of land that have been used for military training, especially in the U.S., are contaminated with RDX— a widely used explosive that is both toxic and carcinogenic. Although bacteria have been isolated that can biodegrade the RDX, the…
Groundwater, surface wa-ter, wastewater, drinking water: it’s all essentially the same stuff. Whichever stage of the water cycle you care to look at, chemical engineers are to be found — either trying to stop water from becoming polluted…
While politicians and research institutes debate about a future hydrogen economy, plant contractors and industrial gas suppliers are working overtime to build bigger, more efficient hydrogen plants to meet the immediate demands. The fact is, there doesn’t seem…
In the U.S. last year, Hurricanes Katrina and Rita powerfully demonstrated the ability of nature to disrupt companies’ operations and commitments. In a business context, the effects of such natural (or, for that matter, civil or social) disruptions can be…