A research group at Stevens Institute of Technology (Hoboken, N.J.; www.stevens.edu) has developed a new mass spectroscopy technique, called helium-plasma-ionization mass spectrometry (HePI-MS), that enables direct sampling of materials without the need for rigorous sample preparation, as is required for…
North American production of crude oil, driven by a rapid increase in output of “tight oil” from U.S. shale deposits like Bakken and Eagle Ford, is surging. In many, but not all areas, petroleum refiners are incorporating an increasing amount…
Process monitoring in biotechnology processes is critical to maximizing product yield and optimizing nutrient consumption. Startup company Stratophase Ltd. (Romsey, U.K.; www.stratophase.com) is now offering the first realtime, in-situ micro-optical sensor for monitoring and control of bioprocesses involving both microbes…
Plant Watch Lanxess inaugurates new high-tech plastics plant in Brazil April 10, 2014 — Lanxess AG (Cologne, Germany; www.lanxess.com) inaugurated its new high-tech plastics plant in Porto Feliz, Brazil. The company has invested around €20 million in the facility, which…
Bayer MaterialScience AG (Leverkusen, Germany; www.materialscience.bayer.de) has been issued the permit for the expansion and operation of its hydrochloric acid facility in Dormagen. The Cologne district authority issued the corresponding ruling on Tuesday following a detailed appraisal. The company can…
Evonik Industries AG (Essen, Germany; www.evonik.com) is investing in the technology startup Algal Scientific Corp. (Northville, Mich.; www.algalscientific.com). Evonik is part of an investors’ consortium that is investing more than $3 million in Series A financing round. Under the trade…
Foster Wheeler AG (Zug, Switzerland; www.fwc.com) says that a subsidiary of its Global Engineering and Construction Group has been awarded a contract for basic engineering for the Squaw Gulch ADR2 project, a new adsorption, desorption and recovery (ADR) facility at…
Meredian, Inc. (Bainbridge, Ga.; www.meredian.com), a privately held biopolymer manufacturer, and Tate & Lyle Plc (London, U.K.; www.tateandlyle.com), a leading global provider of specialty food ingredients and solutions, have confirmed successful pilot production of Meredian’s polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA) formulation process. The…
The Institution of Chemical Engineers (IChemE; Rugby, U.K.; www.icheme.org) has given its support to the Trillion Tonne Communiqué — a global call to arms from organizations who take the science of climate change seriously and demand a proactive policy response.…
The Hungarian fertilizer manufacturer NitrogeÌnmüvek Zrt. is extending its cooperation with plant engineering specialist ThyssenKrupp Industrial Solutions AG (Essen, Germany; www.thyssenkrupp-industrial-solutions.com). A granulation plant with a capacity of 1,550 ton/yr of ammonium nitrate (AN) or 1,960 ton/yr of calcium ammonium…