A compact, inexpensive and energy-saving continuous process to make bioethanol is being developed by professor Yoshio Katakura at Kansai University (Osaka; microbial.life-bio.kansai-u.ac.jp), in collaboration with the Kinki Bio-industry Development Organization (Osaka), Kansai Chemical Engineering Co. (Amagasaki), and Akita National College…
A novel nickel-manganese-gallium alloy, introduced by Goodfellow Corp. (Oakdale, Pa.; www.goodfellowusa.com), elongates in a magnetic field, allowing the conversion of magnetic field energy into kinetic energy. The material offers an alternative to conventional actuators, and could find other uses in…
Grace Davison (Columbia, Md.; www.grace.com) has commercialized a set of catalysts and additives for fluid catalytic cracking (FCC) that contain either zero or low rare-earth metal content. The new product family, known as Replacer, includes new catalysts for processing both…
Sulfur dioxide emissions from metals smelters and other process plants are typically treated by converting the SO2 to sulfuric acid, but this may not be convenient, because of the shipping cost for plants located far from an acid market. WorleyParsons…
AMEC Plc. (London, U.K.; www.amec.com) has been appointed by BASF Polyurethane (Chongqing) Co. and Chongqing Chemical and Pharmaceutical (Group) Holding Co. (CCPHC) as the project management contractor for the development of a new 400,000-metric-ton-per-year MDI (diphenylmethane diisocyanate) facility at Changshou,…
Shaanxi Yanchang Petroleum (Group) Co. (Yanchang Petroleum Group) and KBR, Inc. (Houston; www.kbr.com) have signed an agreement to create a joint-venture (JV) company in the People’s Republic of China. The purpose of the JV will be to market, sell, deliver…
Ube Industries, Ltd. (Tokyo, Japan; www.ube-ind.co.jp says it will launch commercial production of proprietary Artificial Micro Carbon (AMC; multi-walled carbon nanotubes-MWCNT). The company is currently proceeding with the construction of production line for AMC within the Ube Chemical Factory located…
Solvay S.A. (Brussels, Belgium; www.solvay.com) has launched a project to build a specialty polymers production plant for Solef Polyvinylidene Fluoride (PVDF), Tecnoflon Fluoroelastomers (FKM) and their essential monomer VF2 in China to satisfy the growing demand for these high value-added…
UOP LLC (Des Plaines, Ill; www.uop.com), a Honeywell company, has been selected by the Abu Dhabi Oil Refining Co. (Takreer) to provide key technology for a new petrochemical production unit in the United Arab Emirates. The new propane dehydrogenation (PDH)…
Novo Nordisk A/S Bagsværd, Denmark; www.novonordisk.com) is investing close to 1 billion Danish kroner (€134 million) in a new factory in Kalundborg, Denmark, for the production of biopharmaceuticals such as haemophilia medicine, growth hormone and other current and future pharmaceuticals.…