Newsfronts
Workforce 4.0: The Human Side of Digital Transformation
As chemical process industries (CPI) companies continue to experiment with, invest in, and implement a…
Commentary
Pursuing the potential of hydrogen
Hydrogen’s potential for playing a significant role in the global search for clean, secure energy…
In The News
The Changing Face of Simulation
Easier-to-use features and simplified integration lead to new applications for simulation software Simulation software and…
Chementator
A microbe for making chemicals and biofuels from brown algae
A research team from Pohang University of Science and Technology (Pohang, South Korea; www.postech.ac.kr), led…
Novel catalyst for transforming polyethylene into lubricants and waxes
Efficient upcycling of post-consumer plastics, such as polyethylene (PE), is a key sustainability objective. New…
Solvent chemistry is key for cleaner oil-sands processing
Petroteq Energy Inc. (Sherman Oaks, Calif.; www.petroteq.energy) has achieved continuous operation at its oil-sands processing…
Electro-swing adsorption separates CO2 from mixed gases at any concentration
Effectively separating carbon dioxide from combustion exhaust or directly from air is essential for realizing…
Machine learning helps achieve a five-fold boost in formaldehyde yield
Chemistry professor Oliver Trapp and his colleagues at the Ludwig Maximilians-Universität München (LUM; Germany; www.en.uni-muenchen.de)…
Lower-cost engineered composites for transportation infrastructure applications
Engineered cementitious composites (ECCs) are concrete-like materials with exceptional ductility (up to 500 times) and…
Pursuing methanation as a means to recycle CO2
By the end of fiscal 2019, commissioning and continuous operation will begin on a new…
Chementator Briefs
Direct route to PG Dow Inc. (Midland, Mich.; www.dow.com) and Evonik Industries AG (Essen, Germany;…
Geothermal brine may be a new U.S. source of lithium
Currently the U.S. has only one domestic source of lithium, a vital element in lithium-ion…
This process may produce lithium from borate process waste
Rio Tinto (London, U.K.; www.riotinto.com) will shortly start up a pilot plant to produce battery-grade…
Business News
Plant Watch: December 2019
Plant Watch Wacker starts up new silicon-metal production plant in Norway November 15, 2019 —…
Technical & Practical
Feature Report
Interpreting Normalized Profitability Metrics
Normalized profitability metrics provide a basis for comparing the efficiency of capital investments, but they…
Storage Tanks: Snapshots of Failures, Damages and Inspections
Lessons learned from past failures provide insight and know-how needed toinspect and operate storage tanks…
Standard ASME B16.5 Flanges: Bolt Tightening and Target Loads
Using the approach outlined here, piping engineers can select the most appropriate bolt-tightening technique based…
Facts at Your Fingertips
Facts at your Fingertips: Agglomeration Processes
Agglomeration converts fine powder particles into larger ones by introducing external forces. Major benefits for…
Technology Profile
Technology Profile: Ethylene oxide production from ethylene
This column is based on “Ethylene Oxide Production from Ethylene – Cost Analysis,” a report…
Engineering Practice
Selecting the Right Thermodynamic Models for Process Simulation
Software that enables complex processes to be simulated continues to evolve for a wide range…
Environmental Manager
How a Waste Treatment Plan Can Improve Your Bottom Line
Although waste is unavoidable in industrial processes, many companies are turning toward business strategies that…
Equipment & Services
Focus
Focus on Valves
Safe combustible-dust-explosion isolation Isolation is essential to protect adjoining system components against the spread of…
New Products
See filter status in real time with this software solution
This company offers a solution for precise monitoring of the filter status of heavy-duty machinery.…
AI improves asset monitoring and maintenance planning
The Maximo Asset Monitor (photo) is a new remote-monitoring platform powered by artificial intelligence (AI)…
This power supply has a new IO-Link Communication Module
The Pro 2 line of power-supply units (PSU; photo), with units ranging from 120 to…
Decentralized field unit for measuring water parameters
The modular Online Analysis System for measuring water quality is now also available as a…
Software for comprehensive pipeline management
PipePatrol (photo) is a comprehensive suite of software modules for long- or short-distance single and…
New technology enables biogas optimization
The MGP261 is a new Ex-certified inline multigas measurement instrument that enables biogas plant operators…
New filtration media adds strength and cleanability
Introduced at Filtech (Cologne, Germany; October 22–24), Sinterflo FMC (photo) is a new metal-fiber mesh…
Direct, in-situ assessment of critical catalyst properties
The new in situ catalyst-characterization system (ICCS; photo) delivers high-performance test capabilities for the reliable…
Rugged scales handle logistical tasks
The AGB and AGF range of bench and floor scales (photo, p. 32) feature an…
A fully integrated, loop-powered displacement transmitter
The DT-12x Series of transmitters (photo) are loop-powered displacement transmitters that monitor displacement and vibration…
Intrinsically safe smartwatch for use in hazardous areas
The new Smart-Ex Watch 01 (photo, p. 31) is said to be the first smartwatch…
A new volumetric feeder for additive dispensing systems
The new VMF-90D volumetric screw feeder (photo) is an automatic metering screw-feed system for mixing…
High-volume twin-screw feeder delivers precision
The Model TSF twin-screw feeder (photo) is designed for precise batching and weighing applications, including:…
Data connectors for Ethernet and Profinet
The new, two-piece M8 circular connectors for data transmission (photo) are well suited for compact…