The first two installments of this three-part series (CE, November 2005, pp. 40–45, and December, pp. 42–47) dealt mainly with the major methods for estimating the capital costs of pilot plants. This final installment begins with a look…
Whether working on retrofits or new-plant construction, engineers involved with chemical-process projects nowadays are likely to find themselves under pressure to reach completion quickly, sometimes even at the cost of bypassing traditional procedures and project controls. The downside becomes a…
Du Pont (Wilmington, Del.; edlinks.chemengonline.com/5825-550) and the city of Dongying, China, have reached an agreement for constructing a 200,000-m.t./yr plant for producing titanium oxide, a pigment used in coatings, plastics and the paper industry. Pending relevant government approvals, the $1-billion…
With plans to double its investment in alternative energy, BP (London; edlinks.chemengonline.com/5825-551) has formed BP Alternative Energy (Sunbury, U.K.), which will manage an investment program in solar, wind, H2, and IGCC power generation. Click here for a full pdf…
Last month, BASF AG (Ludwigshafen, Germany; edlinks.chemengonline.com/5825-543) started up its first plant for producing cyclohexane. The $12-million investment, located on the Friesenheimer Island, produces 130,000 m.t./yr cyclohexane from benzene using a new process developed by BASF. Without disclosing details, BASF…
As the chemical process industries (CPI) enter 2006, executives, economists and other observers articulate a host of challenges, along with assorted bright spots and opportunities. All these were brought into sharp focus in New York in December, during the Chemical…
It is likely that in your work, you have crossed paths with a person you admire for a career involving excellence in chemical engineering. To perhaps bring that person recognition, nominate him or her for our 2006 Award for Personal…
For some chemical engineers, the tank is half full; for others, it is half empty. Technically, both are right, especially if the discussion pertains to what they were paid in 2004. Where optimists argue that overall salaries continued to…
Are you a chemical engineer in search of employment? Be persistent, be patient and it will pay off, recruiter advise. The lingering question is when. The outlook for Ch.E.s is uncertain, reflecting that for employment overall. This uncertainty stems…
Has it been more than a year since you had a raise? Has your contribution to employee benefits been increased and the amount of your paycheck decreased? Have you gotten a promotion and new responsibilities, and still have to do…