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Commercial debut for a new olefins-production process

Last month, KBR (Houston; www.kbr.com) was awarded a license and process-design-package contract for a new olefins-production unit using the Advanced Catalytic Olefins (ACO) technology. The contract represents the first license of the ACO process, which catalytically cracks naphtha and other…

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A polarizable membrane for improved energy storage

The two basic energy-storage devices — dielectric and double-layer capacitors — entail serious limitations. Dielectric capacitors have low capacitance, on the order of 0.1 to 1.0 µF/cm2, while the double-layer capacitor has a high capacitance, on the order of 0.5…

Focus on Pipes, Tubes & Fittings

Single-use tubing for biopharmaceutical applications Meissner Filtration Products BioFlex tubing assemblies (photo) are designed for secure fluid transfer in critical biopharmaceutical processing applications. The assemblies are configured from this company’s library of pre-qualified components, including its sterilizing-grade membrane filter capsule,…

A process pump with a water-cooled head option

The N0150 diaphragm pumps can now be customized with water-cooled heads to prevent pump overheating in process applications where exothermic reactions can produce excessive heat and potentially shorten pump service life. Capable of serving a range of industries, the pumps…

This high-speed disperser handles viscosities up to 50,000 cP

d fsbgsd High-speed dispersers from this company are suitable for most straightforward powder wet-out applications with fluid viscosities up to 50,000 cP. The units, which can be built to mix vessels up to 6,000 gal or larger, are constructed with…

Use this booster to help valve positioners

Incorporating a fixed deadband, internal soft seats and an integral bypass restriction, the VBL pneumatic volume booster has an enhanced performance capability that is important in applications where a valve positioner alone cannot provide the stroking speed needed to meet…

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Making formic acid by artificial photosynthesis

For the first time, an organic compound has been synthesized from water, carbon dioxide and sunlight — without any other external energy or reagents. The achievement, which was demonstrated by researchers at Toyota Central Research and Development Laboratories, Inc. (Toyota…

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World’s highest-purity lithium plant announces commercial launch

A facility that produces high-purity lithium carbonate for use in the growing market for electrolytes in electric-vehicle batteries has begun commercial operations in Imperial Valley, Calif. The 500-ton/yr plant, operated by Simbol Materials (Pleasanton, Calif.; www.simbolmaterials.com), is the only producer…

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Supercritical water process converts biomass to sugars

Sugar is a critical feedstock for many emerging bio-based-chemical and biofuel processes, but harvesting sugar from low-value, nonfood biomass cost-effectively and at large scale remains a challenge. Renmatix Inc. (King of Prussia, Pa.; www.renmatix.com) has developed a process that uses…

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A new catalyst for asymmetric-transfer-hydrogenation reactions

The Fine Chemicals div. of Takasago International Corp. (Tokyo, Japan; www.takasago.com) has commercialized Deneb: Oxo-Tethered Ruthenium (II) Complex, which shows higher catalytic activities compared to conventional RuCl (arene)(N-sulfonylated diamine) catalyst systems. The higher activity enables a reduction in catalyst loading…