Business & Economics
This modified catalyst additive improves the yield and quality from FCC units
Conventional fluid-catalytic-cracking (FCC) catalysts are based on USY-type of zeolites (having a pore size of about 7.6 Å), which selectively decompose longer-chained hydrocarbons (HCs) into smaller HCs, gasoline components, light and heavy cycle oils and other products. ZSM-type zeolites have…
A thermal wet-air-oxidation process treats gasifier soot
Scheduled for startup in the second half of this year, the Long Lake integrated bitumen and upgrading project (near Fort McMurry, Alberta) now under construction by OPTI Canada, Inc. (edlinks.chemengonline.com/6892-536) and Nexen, Inc. (both Calgary, Alberta) is the first gasification…
Continuously replace spent FCC catalyst with this magnetic separator
Nippon Oil Corp. (Tokyo, Japan; edlinks.chemengonline.com/6892-538) has completed a confirmation test of a magnetic-separation process that selectively removes spent FCC (fluid-catalytic-cracking) catalysts from actives ones. The process runs continuously and requires no shutdown of the FCC unit; normally, FCC catalysts…
Siemens lands a new coal-gasification contract
Siemens Power Generation (Erlangen, Germany; edlinks.chemengonline.com/6892-542) has received a €-30-million contract from Shenhua Ningxia Coal Industry Group Co., Ltd. (China) to supply two entrained-flow gasifiers — each with a thermal capacity of 500 MW — and further key equipment for…
New biofuels
U.S. Sustainable Energy Corp. (Natchez, Miss.; edlinks.chemengonline.com/6892-543) has developed a new biofuel, SoyMazia 128, that is claimed to be the first 100% renewable and environmentally friendly replacement for diesel fuel with none of the negative traits associated with traditional biodiesel.…
Degradable bubblepack
Advanced Excelsior Co. (Houston, Tex.; edlinks.chemengonline.com/6892-545) has launched Bio-Bubble, claimed to be the world’s first 100% Oxo-biodegradable bubble wrap. The material contains Degradable Polymer Products' (Toronto, Canada) d2w additive, which causes plastic products, such as those made of polyethylene, polypropylene…
Piping for Process Plants Part 1: The Basics
This is the first in a series of articles that will cover a wide range of piping topics. The topics will cross process-industry lines, pertaining to, for example, the chemical, petroleum-refining, pulp-and-paper and pharmaceutical and other industries.The main…
AchemAsia 2007 preview
With about 500 exhibitors from 25 countries expected, and attracting around 20,000 visitors, Achemasia 2007 - the 7th International Exhibition-Congress on Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology (May 14–18; Beijing, China) - is projected to continue to be China's and…
Calendar – February
NORTH AMERICA Pittcon 2007. The Pittsburgh Conference on Analytical Chemistry and Applied Spectroscopy, Inc. (Pittsburgh, Pa.). Phone: 412-825-3220; Web: pittcon.org Chicago, Ill.Feb. 25–Mar. 2 23rd International Pump Users Symposium and Exhibit. Turbomachinery Laboratory (College Station, Tex.). Phone: 979-845-7417; Fax:…
Leadership of Project Teams
What skills are required to effectively lead a project team? Leadership is different from management, requires different knowledge, a different skill set, and accomplishes a different purpose. Management deals with the present; leadership deals with the future. Management…