Plant Watch Solvay to build bio-based epichlorohydrin plant in China June 11, 2012 — Solvay S.A. (Brussels, Belgium; www.solvay.com) says its Thai affiliate Vinythai will build an epichlorohydrin plant in Taixing, China. The plant, with an initial capacity of 100,000…
Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd. (MHI; Tokyo, Japan; www.mhi.co.jp) will begin developing basic technologies for a triple combined-cycle power-generation system that integrates solid-oxide fuel cells (SOFC) and a gas turbine combined cycle (GTCC) power generation system. Under the umbrella of the…
Theres a growing trend toward generating electricity from biogas (see pp. 15–17), but roughly half of the total energy content of the fuel is released as heat, which is dissipated into the atmosphere unused. To improve the overall efficiency, researchers…
The research groups of professor Yasuyuki Tsuji and assistant professor Tetsuaki Fujihara at Kyoto University (Japan; www.ehcc.kyoto-u.ac.jp) have developed a copper-catalyzed reaction for synthesizing carboxylic acids, such as acrylic acid, using carbon dioxide as a raw material. The reaction involves…
A group of scientists from Fudan University (Shanghai, China; www.fudan.ac.cn) China, has reported what it claims to be the first example of artificial single-molecular water channels that can transport water across lipid membranes. Transmembrane water transport — through water channel…
In the development process for coal-bed methane, water is produced from wells. It is high-salinity water, with total dissolved solids (TDS) generally at least 1,000 mg/L. The main concern with coal-bed methane co-produced water is the amount of Na+ and…
A consortium of companies — Laricina Energy Ltd., Nexen Inc., Suncor Energy Inc. and Harris Corp. — has completed its initial-phase testing of the Enhanced Solvent Extraction Incorporating Electromagnetic Heating (ESEIEH) project at Suncors Steepbank mine facility north of Fort…
A recently launched, polymer-coated, fumed silica additive improves the performance of structural adhesives — those designed to bear loads. The new additive is capable of reducing the adhesive’s application viscosity, while simultaneously improving its ability to maintain a bead profile…
Wison Engineering Ltd. (Shanghai, China; www.wison.com ), China’s largest private sector chemical engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) service provider, has been officially awarded an EPC contract by PDVSA Petroleo, S.A. (PDVSA), Venezuela’s state-run oil company, at the Puerto la Cruz…
Kobe Steel, Ltd. (Tokyo, Japan; www.kobelco.com) says it will establish two 100% owned companies in July, one in Europe and the other in the Middle East, to expand the global marketing and servicing of its compressors. Kobelco Machinery Europe GmbH…