Users design safety instrumented systems to bring the risk of identified process hazards to within tolerable levels, using application-specific risk models, user inspection schedules, and safety data for the devices under consideration. A key problem when designing such systems is…
Researchers from Newcastle University (U.K.; www.ncl.ac.uk) have discovered that, in the presence of a nickel catalyst, CO2 can be rapidly and cheaply converted into solid carbonate salts. The discovery could lead to a simpler and less-expensive alternative for carbon capture…
An ultraviolet oxidation process for the destruction of water-borne organic contaminants that combines UV with chlorine, rather than hydrogen peroxide, is being developed by MIOX Corp. (Albuquerque, N.M.; www.miox.com). The company’s Advanced Oxidation Process (AOP) promises to be less expensive…
This company has released the rectangular version of its popular CV-S Explosion vent. Specifically designed to provide non-fragmenting opening when protection industrial process equipment, the CV-S explosion vent is said to provide superior protection in applications such as air-material separation,…
One of the most unsettling experiences in a company’s existence may be the surprise regulatory inspection by a representative of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) or a State Environmental Agency. What if you refuse to let them in? What…
Ten of the world’s largest chemical companies, together with the World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD; Geneva, Switzerland; www.wbcsd.org), released today an accounting and reporting guide to help the sector consistently account and report climate impacts in the corporate…
A water-recycling system for the oil-and-gas industries developed by Ecosphere Technologies Inc. (Stuart, Fla.; www.EcosphereTech.com) is designed to destroy bacteria and control corrosion in high-volume wastewater-treatment applications using a proprietary oxidation process. The technology, called Ozonix, improves the mass-transfer efficiency…
An electrochemical process that could cut the energy and cost requirements for stripping carbon dioxide from stack gases by half is being developed at Arizona State University (ASU, Tempe; www.asu.edu). At present the only commercially viable technology is CO2 absorption…
Figure 1. A handful of ceramic proppants is shown here Carbo Ceramics This article covers permitting and directly related design issues associated with thermal processes using drying and calcining for the production of both proppant sand and ceramic proppants (Figure…
This company has announced a new design for its HRD Lockout Assembly. This explosion-protection product is a mechanical barrier used to prevent an accidental discharge of an explosion-suppression container into the process vessel during maintenance and cleaning of the vessel…