Processing & Handling
Microporous vanadosilicate efficiently removes cesium from wastewater
The effective removal of Cs+ ions from contaminated groundwater, seawater, and radioactive nuclear waste is crucial for public health and for the operation of nuclear power plants. Although several methods for the removal of Cs+ ions have been developed, there…
This production process cuts Pt usage in catalytic converters in half
Chemists from the National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and technology (AIST; Tsukuba City, Japan; www.aist.go.jp) have developed a procedure for making the catalysts used in catalytic converters for treating the exhaust from diesel engines. The process, developed with support…
Demonstration of methane fermentation to lactic acid
What is said to be the world’s first fermentation pathway from methane to lactic acid has been demonstrated by Calysta, Inc. (Menlo Park, Calif.; www.calysta.com). The fermentation process begins with an organism that feeds off of methane rather than typical…
Cobalt: a less-expensive and more efficient catalyst than rhodium
The research group of Shigeki Matsunaga, associate professor at the University of Tokyo (Japan; www.f.u-tokyo.ac.jp/~kanai), in collaboration with Ken Sakata at Hoshi University, has developed a new Co-based catalyst system that outperforms the existing rhodium-based catalyst system for the production…
This chloride leaching process recycles resources
Outotec Oyj (Espoo, Finland; www.outotec.com) has developed a new chloride-based leaching process for recovering nickel from nickel matte — a commercial intermediate product of nickel smelting that contains about 65% of nickel. Developed since the 1980s, originally for Cu recovery…
A two-step process for making graphene
A Korean team has developed a carbon material that is as effective as graphene in applications, such as solar cells and semiconductor chips, using a process that requires only two steps instead of the usual eight. High-quality graphene is usually…
A sorbent that enhances the water-gas shift reaction
Scientists at the National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL; Morgantown, W. Va.; www.netl.doe.gov) have demonstrated a process for enhancing the efficiency of the water-gas shift (WGS) reaction. The process revolves around a magnesium hydroxide sorbent material that can remove CO2 from…
A new slurry pump that handles high volumes
The new Wirth triplex double-acting piston diaphragm (TDPM) pump combines two well established and proven pumping principles for the transport of high volumes of abrasive slurry. The Wirth TDPM works on the triplex double-acting principle. It has flowrates of up…
This recirculation pump doesn’t need external cooling
Early this month, this company launched a new generation of hot-water recirculation pumps for large industrial heating systems as well as forced-circulation boilers and district heating systems. The horizontal, radially split single-stage volute casing pumps feature a back pull-out design.…
This blower is now even more energy efficient
The E-Blower extends the high-efficiency solution provided by the company’s Delta Hybrid series in the low volume flow range. The new E-Design delivers a reduction of power demand of up to 4%, depending on volume flow and pressure difference, says…