Practically all of the coal-fired power plants in the U.S. collect ash from the bottoms of their boilers using a wet system — the ash falls into hoppers that are partially filled with water, and once or twice per shift…
A new anode material with nanostructured interfaces between barium oxide and nickel prevents deactivation by coking in solid-oxide fuel cells (SOFCs) using carbon-containing fuels. The material offers a path to low-cost, low-emission SOFCs that can convert gasified carbon fuels to…
Graphene from dry ice Researchers at Northern Illinois University (NIU; DeKalb, Ill.; www.niu.edu) discovered a new method for producing graphene that involves burning pure magnesium metal in dry ice. The method, which is capable of producing large quantities of…
The properties of gold nanoparticles could be combined with those of polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) to provide a sustainable and practical solution for water treatment, according to a team from the Jawaharlal Nehru Center for Advanced Scientific Research (Bangalore, India; www.jncasr.ac.in). The…
This new tank-washing nozzle made from PTFE delivers a slow-moving, high-impact spray action against internal surfaces of tanks and vessels for effective removal of scum rings, or tougher residues. The HydroWhirl Poseidon tank-washing nozzle is especially suited to cleaning and…
This new range of high-pressure check valves is constructed of corrosion-resistant materials that are compliant with the National Assn. of Corrosion Engineers (NACE) MR0175/ISO15156 standards, which makes them suitable for harsh-duty applications, such as chemical injection in oil-tool applications. The…
Gas-liquid reactors in the chemical process industries (CPI) have increasingly been designed to handle larger manufacturing scales. Since gas-liquid reactors can represent substantial capital and operating costs for the user, optimizing mixing and maximizing productivity are critical. The need for…
UniVessel SU (photo) is a single-use bioreactor with 2-L working volume for small-scale protein expressions or process-optimization studies involving mammalian, insect and plant-cell cultures. The reactor is irradiated prior to delivery and is designed to the same safety standards required…
Last month, Corning SAS (Avon, France), a subsidiary of Corning Inc. (Corning, N.Y.; www.corning.com), introduced the Advanced-Flow G4 Ceramic Reactor — the latest addition to the company’s line of glass flow reactors. The G4 is made of sintered-ceramic fluidic modules…
This company has launched new pipe transition fittings made of plastic with internal and external threads of metal. The transition fitting is sealed with an EPDM O-ring, which also protects against distortion and damage to the plastic during installation. The…