UOP LLC (Des Plaines, Ill.; edlinks.chemengonline.com/7368-542) has partnered with the University of Southern California’s (USC) Loker Hydrocarbon Research Institute (Los Angeles; edlinks.chemengonline.com/7368-543) to develop and commercialize new technology to transform carbon dioxide into clean-burning alternative fuels. USC developed fundamental chemistry…
Animal and vegetable oils and fats are a key renewable feedstock for making detergents, soaps, lubricants, paints, coatings, cosmetics and pharmaceuticals, as well as additives for plastics, rubber and textiles. However, a consequence of the current EU renewable-energy policy is…
At the beginning of 2008, it’s clear that global economic growth is slowing. The housing downturn has adversely affected the U.S., and the ensuing credit problems (and tightening) have spread to other nations. A key issue is whether or…
At Pollutec 2007 (Paris, France; November 27 – 30), Veolia Water Solutions & Technologies (Paris, edlinks.chemengonline.com/7368-531) introduced the next generation of its Actiflo clarifier process for potable and process water — Actiflo Turbo. Like its predecessor, the patented Actiflo Turbo…
Plant Watch A new plant for crude-oil processing to be built in Italy December 10, 2007 — ABB has won a contract worth more than $86 million from Eni SpA to design and construct a new oil processing plant in…
Honeywell (Phoenix, Ariz.; www.honeywell.com/ps) today announced a six-year agreement with BP Exploration to provide Main Automation Contractor (MAC) services at the oil and gas leader’s new and existing facilities. Honeywell will help BP Exploration & Production (E&P) accelerate production schedules…
Fluor Corp. has been selected to provide integrated engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) for expansion and upgrade of Marathon Oil Corp.’s Detroit, Mich., refinery. The $1.6-billion EPC contract includes services, the value of procured materials and the construction contracts under…
First firing of the world’s largest and most powerful gas turbine, developed by Siemens (Erlangen, Germany; www.siemens.com), was achieved as scheduled on December 20, 2007. This marks the beginning of a planned 18-month trial operation period at the E.ON Irsching…
The Linde Group (Munich, Germany; www.linde.com) has secured a long-term contract with Ningbo Wanhua Polyurethane, which is one of the fastest growing chemical companies for the production of polyurethanes in China. Linde will supply oxygen and nitrogen to Wanhua’s world-scale…
Kureha Corp. (Tokyo, Japan; www.kureha.co.jp/en ) says it will invest more than $100 million to build a plant in Belle, W.Va., which will produce and sell the high-performance polymer, polyglycolic acid (PGA). Construction of the production facility, which will be…