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Clariant achieves a further milestone in the manufacture of second-generation bioethanol  

Clariant (Muttenz, Switzerland; www.clariant.com) is demonstrating the international potential of its process for manufacturing sustainable biofuel through the expansion of Sunliquid technology to further agricultural residues. Following the opening of Germany’s largest demonstration plant for manufacturing ethanol from agricultural residues…

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Air Products acquires EPCO  

Expanding its portfolio of industrial gases offerings in North America, Air Products (Lehigh Valley, Pa.; www.airproducts.com) has has acquired EPCO Carbon Dioxide Products, Inc. (EPCO; Monroe, La.), a privately-held producer and marketer of liquid carbon dioxide. The acquisition also includes…

Current economic trends

Preliminary data for the March  2013 CE Plant Cost Index (CEPCI; top; the most recent available) indicate that the composite index declined by 0.3% from the February value. The decrease was driven by a lower overall equipment cost index. The…

Seeking input on distillation education, and more June Letters

Seeking input on distillation education Right now, distillation engineers are extremely busy — globally, and especially in the U.S. The AIChE Distillation Symposium (May, San Antonio, Tex.) that was organized by Henry Kister and Mike Pritchett had an amazing number…

Calendar: June to November 2013

North America Risk Management of Corrodible Systems. National Assn. of Corrosion Engineers (Houston). Phone: 281-228-6200; Web: event.nace.org Orlando, Fla. June 18–20 Valve World Americas Expo & Conference. Messe Düsseldorf North America (Chicago, Ill.). Phone: 312-781-5185; Web: mdna.com Houston June 25–26…

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Evonik plans new precipitated-silica plant in Brazil, and more business news

Plant Watch Evonik plans new precipitated- silica plant in Brazil May 10, 2013 — Evonik Industries AG (Essen, Germany; www.evonik.com) has started basic engineering for a precipitated-silica plant in Brazil. Subject to the approval of the responsible bodies, Evonik aims…

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From Concept to Commercial Production

Chemical technology is in a state of constant innovation and evolution that is being spearheaded by laboratory researchers across the world. Within the past decade, research specific to “green” or bio-based chemicals has gathered funding and momentum as broad-based opinion…

Kenneth Lane becomes president of BASF’s Catalyst Division…

Kraemer Garber Prejean Schaub Watson Kenneth Lane becomes president of BASF’s Catalysts Div. (Iselin, N.J.), succeeding Frank Bozich, who has decided to leave the company.   Klüber Lubrication North America LP (Londonderry, N.H.) names Ralf Kraemer CEO. He succeeds Dieter…

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Myriant produces bio-succinic acid at commercial scale  

Myriant Corp.(Quincy, Mass.; www.myriant.com) announced the successful scaling and commercial production of bio-succinic acid at ThyssenKrupp Uhde's (Dortmund, Germany; www.uhde.eu) biotech commercial validation facility in Leuna, Germany. The production process meets targets for commercial yield and product quality. Myriant and…

Linde NA announces plans for ASU and gasification train in Texas

Linde North America (Murray Hill, NJ; www.lindeus.com) will invest more than $200 million to build a large, state-of-the art air separation unit (ASU), a new gasification train and supporting equipment and facilities in La Porte, Texas. The plants are scheduled…