In The News
Save energy (and more) with this hybrid compressor system for EOR
Last month, Lewa GmbH (Leonberg, Germany; www.lewa.de) and Burckhardt Compression AG (Winterthur, Switzerland; www.burckhardtcompression.com) signed an agreement to commercialize hybrid compression systems for enhanced-oil-recovery (EOR) applications. EOR — injecting high-pressure CO2 into oil wells to both reduce the crude oil’s…
This fully functional Li-ion battery is flexible
A team from the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (Kaist; Daejeon, South Korea: www.kaist.ac.kr) and Seoul National University (www.useoul.edu) led by Kaist’s professor Keon Jae Lee, claims to have developed the first prototype of a fully functional all-flexible…
High-tech plastic from Bayer driving investment
The sharply rising global demand for the high-tech plastic Apec from Bayer MaterialScience AG (Leverkusen, Germany; www.bayermaterialscience.de) is spawning major investment in eastern Germany. Another plant for the production of a key precursor for Apec is currently under construction in…
A nano cage made from a stack of benzenes
Professor Kenichoro Itami and his group at Nagoya University (synth.chem. nagoya-u.ac.jp) have synthesized a cage-type carbon nano-molecule, Carbon Nano-cage, composed of 20 condensed benzene rings — C120H78. The group used a procedure it developed four years ago to synthesize carbon…
Evonik to increase production capacity for 1-butene
Evonik Industries AG (Essen, Germany; www.evonik.com) plans to increase the production capacity for 1-butene at its Marl site by 75,000 metric tons (m.t.) per year, and start-up is scheduled for 2015. With a total capacity of 310,000 m.t., Evonik would…
A polymersome that releases its cargo where needed
Several drug delivery systems have been studied involving the encapsulation of molecules in a suitable structure and their transport through the human body. In particular, polymersomes — tiny hollow spheres that enclose a solution — formed using synthetic block copolymers…
Successful startup of Datang Phase 1 SNG plant in China
Davy Process Technology (Davy; London, U.K.; www.davyprotech.com), a wholly owned Johnson Matthey subsidiary, and Johnson Matthey announce the successful startup of a new substitute natural gas (SNG) plant owned and operated by Datang Energy Chemical Co. (Datang) in Keshiketeng County,…
KBR to provide license and design package for olefins recovery unit in China
KBR (Houston; www.kbr.com) was awarded a license and process-design package contract for a new Olefins Recovery Unit in Yulin city, Shanxi Province, China. The client owns an existing commercial plant of coal-to-olefins which was put into production in 2011 and…
BP agrees to sell Carson refinery and more business news
Plant Watch Solvay increases fluorinated-derivatives production capacity in France September 6, 2012 — Solvay S.A. (Brussels, Belgium; www.solvay.com) is investing over €10 million to double the capacity of the fluorinated aliphatic-derivatives production line at its plant in Salindres, France. The…
October Chementator Briefs
Flexible aerogels Researchers at the NASA Glenn Research Center (Cleveland, Ohio; www.nasa.gov) have developed new flexible aerogels that could eventually be used in highly insulating materials and linings. Aerogels, sometimes called “solid smoke,” are superlightweight structures of silica reinforced…