The research group of Yasuhiro Uozumi and Yoichi Yamada at Riken (Saitama, Japan; www.riken.jp), in collaboration with professor Audrey Moores of McGill University (Montreal, Que.), has developed a highly efficient catalyst for performing hydrogenation reactions, which are important in the…
Fermenting sugar is at the heart of many bio-based chemical and biofuel processes, but obtaining sugars from cellulosic biomass at low cost is an ongoing challenge. A new process using a reusable solid catalyst is capable of breaking down a…
When coal-derived synthesis gas (syngas) is converted to liquid fuel by the Fischer-Tropsch (F-T) process, the initial product is mostly straight-chain waxy paraffins that can be upgraded by hydroprocessing to obtain diesel fuel and naphtha, which are used for gasoline…
A highly active nickel catalyst for performing cross-coupling reactions has been developed by the research group of professor Shu Kobayashi at the University of Tokyo (Japan; www.chem.s.u-tokyo.ac.jp). The researchers were able to immobilize nickel nanoparticles onto a polymer support matrix…
Let’s face it, valves may not be the most glamorous piece of equipment in a chemical process industries (CPI) facility, but no plant can function without them. In addition, multiple challenges and issues specific to the chemical processing industry affect…
A process from Dow Water & Process Solutions (DW&PS; Edina, Minn.; www.dowwaterandprocess.com) uses a unique adsorbent resin to improve the taste of orange juice. Amberlite FPX66 is a macroreticular, non-functionalized adsorbent resin with a pore structure designed to capture a…
Many investigations are ongoing to achieve ammonia synthesis at energy-saving mild conditions instead of the high temperatures and pressures (500°C, 300 atm) required by the commonly used Haber-Bosch process, which consumes more than 1% of the world’s power production. Now,…
Designed for general industrial applications, the new SLC4 (photo) and SLC8 models of the Seal-Less Drive Eccentric Disc Pumps line also handle numerous chemicals, such as isocyanates, polyols, additives, solvents, starches and glues, inks and resins, methacrylates and detergents. The…
The new intelligent positioner TopControl Basic, Type 8694 is designed for applications in hygienic process environments. With a compact design, it is optimized for integrated mounting on the company’s Element and Classic valve ranges, as well as third-party process valves.…
Chemical vapor deposition (CVD) is among the most reliable methods to produce large-area graphene films on different metal substrates with diverse carbon sources. The benchtop Thermal CVD Cube (photo) grows a bilayer graphene (BG) using a thermoplastic polymer as a…