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Chemical Engineering

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Digital Tools Help Optimize Steam Systems

Measuring and monitoring tools simplify steam-system management and increase efficiency Although widely used throughout the chemical process industries (CPI), steam systems are often neglected until there is an issue with safety, reliability or steam quality. However, as processors become more…

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Facts At Your Fingertips: Stainless Steels and Corrosion

Stainless steels are common materials for process equipment and components in the chemical process industries in large part because of their corrosion resistance. This one-page reference reviews the properties of stainless steels with regard to corrosion resistance. Passive layer Stainless…

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Extending the Life of Fluid System Components

With proper design, installation, monitoring and maintenance, chemical plant operators can increase the lifecycle of fluid systems — and the bottom line Replacing a fluid system component costs more than just the price of the part itself. It also includes…

Safety Aspects in the Instrumentation of Process Plants

Safety is often underestimated when planning, operating and maintaining process-measuring equipment. Sensors with SIL certification, alone, do not make the process safe. It is important to avoid systematic errors during planning, installation and operation The correct installation of a temperature…

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Chementator briefs

Magnet Metals Bilfinger SE (Mannheim, Germany; www.bilfinger.com) is supporting REEtec AS (Oslo, Norway; www.reetec.no) with engineering, procurement, construction and management (EPCM) services for a new processing plant for neodymium and praseodymium — two rare earth elements (REE) used in the…

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Design for Safety: Tips for Proactive Risk Reduction

Thoughtful design can help reduce safety risks at process plant sites by proactively eliminating possible hazards and modifying personnel behaviors Safety is an important value in any organization, but is particularly important in the chemical process industries (CPI) when the…

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Scaleup for an ethanol-to-ethylene process

Last May, Axens (Rueil-Malmaison, France; www.axens.net) started up the first ethanol-to-ethylene pilot plant based on Axen’s Atol technology with Sumitomo Chemical Co., Ltd. (Tokyo, Japan; www.sumitomo-chem.co.jp). The pilot plant, located at Sumitomo Chemical’s Chiba Works, will produce ethylene from ethanol.…

Wireless Data Collection: Stop Chasing Reliability Data

A routes-by-exception reliability strategy helps improve safety and efficiency, while preserving competitive advantage in a changing marketplace In recent years, maintenance and reliability experts have often talked about the massive wave of retirements leaving chemical plants, creating a shortage of…

Sumitomo Chemical acquires U.S.-based biostimulants company

Sumitomo Chemical Co. (Tokyo, Japan) plans to acquire FBSciences Holdings, Inc., a U.S. company engaged in the business of biostimulants, a group of naturally-derived agricultural materials and a class of biorationals. The acquisition is due to be completed subject to…

Albemarle launches re-branded catalysts business line

Albemarle Corp. (Charlotte, N.C.) announced the official brand launch of Ketjen, its wholly owned subsidiary that crafts tailored, advanced catalyst solutions for the petrochemical, refining and specialty chemicals industries. The company shared the new name of its catalysts business in…