The first commercial-scale biobutanol plant using the Gevo Integrated Fermentation Technology (GIFT) process is set to come online in mid-2012 at the former site of an ethanol facility in Minnesota. In late January, Gevo (Englewood, Colo.; www.gevo.com) was awarded a…
A new catalyst design, in which gallium atoms are integrated into the zeolite catalyst structure, can increase yields of aromatic compounds from biomass by 40% in a catalytic fast-pyrolysis process. The higher yields of benzene, toluene and xylenes (BTX), as…
A new catalyst design, in which gallium atoms are integrated into the zeolite catalyst structure, can increase yields of aromatic compounds from biomass by 40% in a catalytic fast-pyrolysis process. The higher yields of benzene, toluene and xylenes (BTX), as…
The engineering company Uhde Inventa-Fischer (Berlin, Germany and Domat/Ems, Switzerland; www.uhde-inventa-fischer.com) has successfully commissioned a plant for the production of polyamide 6.6 for its Chinese customer Huafon Group. The production plant has an annual capacity of 40,000 metric tons and…
A proprietary nanoscale catalyst and an updated engineering design have allowed higher conversion rates for transforming the heaviest fractions of crude oil, known as vacuum residue, into high-value transportation fuels, such as diesel. Developed by UOP LLC (Des Plaines, Ill.;…
Evonik Industries AG (Essen, Germany; www.evonik.com) has awarded WorleyParsons Ltd. (North Sydney, Australia; www.worleyparsons.com) a contract for the detailed engineering, procurement support and construction management on the building of world-scale plants for the production of isophorone and isophorone diamine. The…
Last month, W. L. Gore & Associates (Gore; Elkton, Md.; www.gore.com) introduced what is claimed to be the worlds first 20-nm-rated polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) filter that is available in a high-density polyethylene (HDPE) cartridge. Compared to conventional filtration media, this new…
A proprietary nanoscale catalyst and an updated engineering design have allowed higher conversion rates for transforming the heaviest fractions of crude oil, known as vacuum residue, into high-value transportation fuels, such as diesel. Developed by UOP LLC (Des Plaines, Ill.;…
Air Products (Lehigh Valley, Pa.; www.airproducts.com) has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire all of DuPont’s (Wilmington, Del.; www.dupont.com) interest in DuPont Air Products NanoMaterials LLC (DA NanoMaterials; Tempe, Ariz.; www.nanoslurry.com ), the two companies’ 50-50 joint venture serving…
Solar thermal power The first solar-thermal power plant in Southeast Asia fed its full output of 5 MW into Thailand’s public grid for the first time late January. The facility — designed and built by Solarite GmbH (Duckwitz, Germany; www.solarlite.de)…