Environment, Health, Safety & Security
Securing chemical Process facilities
Security is on everyone’s mind. Heightened awareness and concerns have affected the way we live and the way we work. Those of us who are part of the chemical process industries (CPI) and have a great respect for…
An improved production process for solar-cell Si
With the aim to commercialize a new process for making solar-cell grade (SOG) silicon, Chisso Corp. (Tokyo, Japan; edlinks.chemengonline.com/6891-534) is negotiating the possibility of establishing a joint-venture company with Nippon Mining Holdings, Inc. (Tokyo) and Toho Titanium Co., Ltd. (Chigasaki,…
Mercury Emissions – Control, Processes go commercial
November 17 was the deadline for states to submit their plans for the control of mercury emissions from power plants to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA, Washington D.C.; epa.gov), but mercury-control processes are already being commercialized. The…
Biofuel
Subsidiaries of Shell Oil Co. (Houston, Tex.; edlinks.chemengonline.com/6891-547) and Codexis, Inc. (Redwood City, Calif.; edlinks.chemengonline.com/6891-548) are collaborating to enhance methods of converting biomass to biofuels. Shell, already one of, if not the leading, distributor of transportation biofuels, says it is…
Purifying refinery gas
BASF AG (Ludwigshafen, Germany; edlinks.chemengonline.com/6519-551) has commercialized specialty amino-acid salt formulations that are specially designed for the purification of highly aggressive gas streams at petroleum refineries. PuraTreat R formulations can be used to remove hydrogen sulfide and — if necessary…
Vacuum insulation
At Glasstec 2006 (Düsseldorf, Germany; October 24–28), the Fraunhofer Institute for Silicate Research (ISC; Würzburg, Germany; edlinks.chemengonline.com/6519-553) unveiled a prototype for a new vacuum-insulated window that promises to save energy. The window — consisting of two glass panes separated by…
Greenhouse-gas regulations are coming to chemicals
When in 1997 a United Nations’ conference at Kyoto, Japan, called into being the Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), it seemed that greenhouse-gas emissions regulations were just around the corner. Not so fast, was the world’s answer.…
More For Your Money
Portable and fixed detectors for toxic and flammable gases are offering more choice and better value for the money, say experts, thanks to technology developments and strong market competition. In Europe, competition triggered by consolidation in the last…
Designing for A Safe Process
Accidents do happen. While not everything can be predicted, addressing safety concerns throughout the design of a process can help to prevent accidents from occurring. Designing with safety in mind can also help to minimize potentially serious consequences…
Troubleshooting Field Failures of Rupture Disks
Understanding why rupture disks fail can help ensure that they don’t Even with the best process design, the unexpected can happen. Anticipating this, rupture disks are often installed as the last line of defense against the over-pressurization of equipment used…