In The News
This cobalt complex catalyst is less expensive, more active than its rhodium analog
The research group of professor Shigeki Matsunaga at Hokkaido University (Sapporo, Japan; www.oia.hokudai.ac.jp), in collaboration with associate professor Takeshi Sakata at Hoshi University, has developed an inexpensive cobalt-based catalyst that can synthesize useful chemicals with fewer reaction steps and reduced…
Ionic Liquids Create More Sustainable Processes
The distinctive properties of ionic liquids enable versatility and efficiency across many industrial applications Ionic liquids — salts in a liquid state at ambient conditions — make up a fascinating family of materials whose unique physical properties have made them…
Modeling and Simulation Move Forward
More tools and fresh applications bring modeling and simulation to all facets of chemical processing Modeling and simulation software is becoming not only more powerful, but also more user friendly and affordable, making it a valuable tool for chemical processors…
Chementator Briefs
Li-S Battery Storage Anesco Ltd. (Reading, U.K.; www.anesco.co.uk) and OXIS Energy (Abingdon, U.K.; www.oxisenergy.com) have begun a collaboration to commercialize OXIS Lithium Sulfur Technology for battery storage for commercial and residential renewable installations. The new battery storage units will be…
Selective removal of micropollutants
Micropollutants, such as antibiotics and flame retardants, can pose a health threat to animals and humans, even in tiny concentrations. Current methods to remove micropollutants from the environment include adsorption onto powdered activated carbon, which is then separated from the…
This wastewater-treatment process also captures carbon dioxide
Researchers from the University of Colorado Boulder (Boulder, Colo.; www.colorado.edu) have developed a technology that combines wastewater treatment and carbon capture, resulting in a carbon-negative process that actually produces energy. The technology — called microbial electrolytic carbon capture (MECC) —…
Ceramic membrane filtration to be demonstrated for removing oil from produced water
Japanese companies INPEX Corp. (Tokyo, www.inpex.co.jp), Chiyoda Corp. (Yokohama; www.chiyoda-corp.com), and Metawater Co., Ltd. (Tokyo, all Japan; www.metawater.co.jp) have been commissioned to build a small-scale demonstration facility that will use ceramic membrane filtration for treating produced water for Japan Oil,…
BioAmber opens world’s largest succinic acid plant; and more business news
Plant Watch Chambroad commissions China’s first C3/C4 coproduction plant August 12, 2015 — UOP LLC (Des Plaines, Ill.; www.uop.com) announced that Shandong Chambroad Holding Co. has become the first company in China to commission a combined propylene and isobutylene (C3/C4)…
A sound way to degas aluminum melts
During casting of aluminum alloys, degassing is required to remove hydrogen from the molten metal in order to prevent porosity in the solid metal that deteriorates its properties and performance. Currently, the so-called argon rotary degassing is used, where a…
Phosphorus-free cooling water treatment
A new technology for treating cooling tower water is designed to control scale formation and provide corrosion protection without using phosphorus-containing compounds. Phosphorus from wastewater discharge is known to be a major factor in fueling algae blooms and excessive aquatic…