Researchers at Oxford Catalysts Ltd. (Oxford, U.K.; edlinks.chemengonline.com/7372-534) have shown that the method of preparation — rather than the identity or combination of metals used — has the greatest influence on the performance of hydrodesulfurization (HDS) catalysts. The results of…
A process in which sulfur is extracted from natural gas in the field and converted to sulfur dioxide, which is then injected into the gas reservoir and reacts with hydrogen sulfide in situ to produce elemental sulfur, has been developed…
Verenium Corp. (formerly Celunol; Cambridge, Mass.; edlinks.chemengonline.com/7372-537) is starting up a 1.4-million gal/yr demonstration-scale facility at Jennings, La., which will produce ethanol from regional feedstocks (including sugarcane bagasse and specially bred "energy cane") via proprietary cellulosic-ethanol technology. The technology was…
Carbone Lorraine (CL; Paris, France; edlinks.chemengonline.com/7372-538) is launching a new welded-plate heat exchanger, dubbed Heatex, which features plates made of tantalum CL-Clad. The patented CL-Clad technology involves the brazing of steel onto "reactive" metals, such as tantalum, titanium and zirconium,…
Small-scale chemical producers that use chlorine often rely on larger producers, which sell them the excess Cl2 produced by dedicated chlor-alkali plants. However, such Cl2 supplies are being threatened on a number of fronts, at least in Europe, where new…
Because parts made from boron carbide have a higher rigidity and lower weight compared with those made from silicon carbide and alumina, boron carbide parts are important components for semiconductor manufacturing equipment and other components requiring high-temperature and abrasion resistance,…
A new roll-to-roll manufacturing process promises to overcome the major cost barriers impeding the widespread adoption of high-performance organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs) for lighting, e-paper and display applications. The culmination of a four-year, $13-million research partnership between GE Global Research…
Solvay S.A. (Brussels, Belgium; www.solvay.com) announces today that its subsidiary Solvay Chemicals, Inc. is expanding its portfolio with a new product named SOLVAir Select 300, which is designed for air-pollution control applications, in particular, the treatment of sulfur dioxide (SO2)…
BASF S.E. (Ludwigshafen, Germany; www.basf.com) has started operating a new plant for the production of nitric acid at its Antwerp Verbund site. Nitric acid is one of the most important inorganic intermediates, and the plant's output will be used mainly…
Foster Wheeler Ltd. (Hamilton, Bermuda; www.fwc.com) announced today that its Finnish subsidiary Foster Wheeler Energia Oy, part of its Global Power Group, has been awarded a contract by NSE Biofuels Oy Ltd. for a circulating fluidized-bed (CFB) biomass gasifier to…