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Algae-harvesting technique applied to produced water

Technology originally developed for dewatering algae has shown success in separating hydrocarbons from produced water that results from oil and gas drilling. The method could be used in treating produced water for onsite re-use as hydraulic fracturing fluid. To harvest…

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A step closer to replacing platinum in catalytic converters

The research group of Masaru Ogura, an associate professor at the Institute of Industrial Science, University of Tokyo (www.u-tokyo.ac.jp), has clarified the degradation mechanism and the role potassium carbonate plays in the catalyst systems used for reducing soot from the…

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The quest for a more-efficient gas-fired power generator

Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd. (MHI; Tokyo, Japan; www.mhi.co.jp) will begin developing basic technologies for a triple combined-cycle power-generation system that integrates solid-oxide fuel cells (SOFC) and a gas turbine combined cycle (GTCC) power generation system. Under the umbrella of the…

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A compact thermal storage system

Theres a growing trend toward generating electricity from biogas (see pp. 15–17), but roughly half of the total energy content of the fuel is released as heat, which is dissipated into the atmosphere unused. To improve the overall efficiency, researchers…

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Making carboxylic acids from alkynes and CO2

The research groups of professor Yasuyuki Tsuji and assistant professor Tetsuaki Fujihara at Kyoto University (Japan; www.ehcc.kyoto-u.ac.jp) have developed a copper-catalyzed reaction for synthesizing carboxylic acids, such as acrylic acid, using carbon dioxide as a raw material. The reaction involves…

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Making artificial water channels

A group of scientists from Fudan University (Shanghai, China; www.fudan.ac.cn) China, has reported what it claims to be the first example of artificial single-molecular water channels that can transport water across lipid membranes. Transmembrane water transport — through water channel…

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This coated silica additive improves adhesive performance

A recently launched, polymer-coated, fumed silica additive improves the performance of structural adhesives — those designed to bear loads. The new additive is capable of reducing the adhesive’s application viscosity, while simultaneously improving its ability to maintain a bead profile…

Focus on High-purity Processing

This bioprocessing tubing is weldable Watson-Marlow Tubing, PureWeld XL tubing is a weldable tube for the biopharmaceutical and pharmaceutical industries, and is designed for high-purity and secure peristaltic pumping. A high-quality tube capable of completely secure welding, PureWeld XL allows…

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‘Visible’ photocatalyst

The research groups of Masahiro Miyauchi at Tokyo Institute of Technology (www.eim.ceram.titech.ac.jp) and Kazuhiko Hashimoto at the University of Tokyo (www.light.t.u-tokyo.ac.jp) have developed a photocatalyst that is highly active for the destruction of volatile organic compoiunds (VOCs) using visible radiation.…

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Manufacturing bee silk with bacteria

A partnership between Australian research agency CSIRO (Melbourne, Australia; www.csiro.au) and Lonza Group Ltd. (Basel, Switzerland; www.lonza.com), aims to market new insect silk products globally. Potential applications of insect silk include composite fibers for the aviation and marine industries, and…