Business & Economics
DOE: $24 million for algal biofuels research
The U.S. Dept. of Energy (DOE; Washington, D.C.; www.energy.gov) announced today the investment of up to $24 million for three research groups to tackle key hurdles in the commercialization of algae-based biofuels. The selections will support the development of a…
Pilot confirmation of enhanced water-treatment process
Teijin Ltd. (Tokyo, Japan; www.teijin.co.jp) announced today that a 10-month pilot test conducted with PUB, Singapore’s national water agency has proven that a Teijin-designed system based on HiPOx, an advanced oxidation process utilizing ozone and hydrogen peroxide, enhances the performance…
PSE releases gPROMS v3.3
Process Systems Enterprise Ltd. (PSE; London, U.K.; www.psenterprise.com), providers of the world-leading gPROMS advanced process modeling (APM) software and related services, today released gPROMS version 3.3. gPROMS v3.3 continues PSE’s philosophy of advancing the frontiers of high-fidelity predictive process modeling…
BASF to buy Cognis
BASF SE (Ludwigshafen, Germany; www.basf.com) has reached an agreement with Cognis Holding Luxembourg S.à r.l. controlled by Permira Funds, GS Capital Partners and SV Life Sciences to acquire the specialty chemicals company Cognis for an equity purchase price of €700…
M+W Group opens first Li-ion battery factory
The engineering and construction company M+W Group (formerly M+W Zander; Stuttgart, Germany; www.mwgroup.net) has successfully completed its first order to build a lithium-ion battery plant. In Varkaus, Finland the Finnish battery manufacturer European Batteries Oy has commissioned its new factory…
Global chemical output expected to rise 7.2% in 2010, ACC says
Global chemical output is expected to grow 7.2% in 2010, the American Chemistry Council (Arlington, Va.; www.americanchemistry.com) says in its just released 2nd Quarter 2010 Situation & Outlook report. The anticipated 2010 gain will be followed by a more moderate 5.0%…
KBR: Grassroots ammonia plant in Argentina
KBR, Inc. (Houston; www.kbr.com) has been awarded a contract by Tierra Del Fuego Power & Chemical Co., Ltd. to provide licensing and process design for a grassroots ammonia plant in Tierra Del Fuego, Argentina. KBR will license its conventional ammonia…
Praxair China signs agreement with Evergreen Solar
Praxair (China) Investment Co. (Shanghai; www.praxair.cn) has signed a multi-year agreement with Evergreen Solar Energy China Co. to supply bulk industrial gases for its solar wafer manufacturing facility in Wuhan, China. Evergreen Solar develops, manufactures and markets solar-power products based…
Foster Wheeler: Three CFB steam generators for China
Foster Wheeler AG (Zug, Switzerland; www.fwc.com) says that a subsidiary of its Global Power Group has been awarded a contract by Sinopec Wuhan Co. for the design and supply of three circulating fluidized-bed (CFB) steam generators for the Sinopec Wuhan…
Foster Wheeler: New refinery in Turkey
Foster Wheeler AG (Zug, Switzerland; www.fwc.com) says a subsidiary of its Global Engineering and Construction Group has been awarded contracts by SOCAR & TURCAS Rafineri A.S. (STRAS) for its planned grassroots refinery to be built within the Petkim Petrokimya A.S.…