In The News
Xylenes-production process takes advantage of low-cost methanol feedstock
A new low-pressure xylenes-production process combines toluene with methanol to yield a xylenes product stream with the possibility of no benzene byproduct. Known as GT-TolAlk and developed by GTC Technology (Houston; www.gtctech.com), the new process requires no hydrogen addition and…
Valves for Extreme Service
To meet the needs of the chemical process industries, new valve materials and designs combat corrosion and leaks In the grand scheme of any chemical process, a valve might seem an afterthought. However, in reality, valves play as critical a…
LED sight-glass light
Illumination is required for visual inspection of a process through a sight glass in a vessel or tank. A newly demonstrated light source, developed by L.J. Star Inc. (Twinsburg, Ohio; www.ljstar.com) and marketed as the LumiStar3000, is said to be…
Phase-change slurry
Researchers from the Fraunhofer Institute for Environmental, Safety and Energy Technology (Umsicht; Sulzbach-Rosenberg; www.umsicht.fraunhofer.de) and RWTH Aachen University (both Germany; www.rwth-aachen.de) have developed a new phase-change material (PCM) trade-named CryoSolPlus. The PCM is a dispersion of solid paraffin beads and…
Onsite CN generation
Gold mines using traditional cyanide-leaching extraction processes will benefit with the launch of a new technology allowing onsite production of sodium cyanide. The technology, developed by Synergen Met Pty Ltd (Brisbane, Australia; www.synergenmet.com), will eliminate a range of hazardous activities…
‘High-entropy’ alloy
Researchers from North Carolina State University (Raleigh; www.ncsu.edu) and Qatar University (Doha; www.qu.edu.qa) have developed a new metal alloy that is claimed to have a higher strength-to-weight ratio than any other existing metal material. The low-density, nanocrystalline alloy — Al20Li20Mg10Sc20Ti30…
New enzyme
Last month, Novozymes (Copenhagen, Denmark; www.novozymes.com) launched a new enzyme, dubbed Eversa, which is said to be the first commercially available enzymatic solution to make biodiesel fuels from waste oils. The enzymatic process converts used cooking oil or other lower-grade…
Recently Published Books January 2015
Voids in Materials: From Unavoidable Defects to Designed Cellular Materials. By Gary M. Gladysz and Krishan K. Chawla. Elsevier Inc., 225 Wyman Street, Waltham, MA 02144. Web: elsevier.com. 2014. 214 pages. $175.00. How Safe is Safe Enough? Technological Risks, Real…
Who’s Who
Greene’s Energy Group LLC (Houston), a provider of testing services, equipment rentals and specialty services for the oil-and-gas industry, names Robert Fraser regional business-development manager, based in Dubai. Philippe Sauquet becomes president of refining and chemicals, and a member of…
Bayer MaterialScience inaugurates TDI plant in Dormagen; and more latest news
PLANT WATCH Bayer MaterialScience inaugurates TDI plant in Dormagen December 9, 2014 — At its site in Dormagen, Germany, Bayer MaterialScience AG (Leverkusen, Germany; www.materialscience.bayer.de) has started up a new production plant for toluene diisocyanate (TDI). Valued at around €250…