In The News
Biobutanol to be produced at retrofitted ethanol plant
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…
Biobutanol to be produced at retrofitted ethanol plant
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…
Adding gallium to biomass pyrolysis catalyst increases BTX yield
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…
Adding gallium to biomass pyrolysis catalyst increases BTX yield
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…
Improved heavy-crude conversion process boosts diesel yields
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.;…
A fine filter
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…
Improved heavy-crude conversion process boosts diesel yields
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.;…
Successful commissioning of a polyamide 6.6 plant at Huafon Group in Ruian, China
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…
March Chementator Briefs
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)…
WorleyParsons awarded Evonik contract
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…