Acrylic acid is a moderately strong carboxylic acid primarily used as an intermediate in the production of acrylate esters. These acrylate esters are then mainly used to manufacture adhesives, plastics additives, coatings, paints and textiles. The process Figure 1 depicts…
A real-life example is provided to show how to stay on program and within budget Over the past few years, much has been written in the trade press about how to manage large, $1- billion-plus plant-construction and expansion projects in…
An awareness of the impact of materials selection on the machining processes for small, complex components can affect overall end-product quality and costs The importance of material selection for small, complex components found in equipment critical to the chemical process…
Knowing the features of a good boiler will prevent problems associated with a poor design Oil- and gas-fired package steam generators (or boilers; Figure 1) are used in chemical plants, power plants, petroleum refineries and in cogeneration plants to generate…
Different methodologies are available for conducting the structured reviews known as process hazards analyses (PHAs) for new processes. PHAs are often conducted or moderated by specialists, with participation by the design team, representatives of the facility owner, and experienced process…
Amino acids are the basis for all proteins and are considered building blocks of life. Among them, lysine (biologically active in its L-stereoisomer form) is one of the essential amino acids not synthesized biologically in the body. In this context,…
Pressure swing adsorption technology is well known for H2 purification applications, but the technique can also be used for other gas-separation processes in petroleum refining facilities Pressure swing adsorption (PSA) is a well-established process for the separation and purification of…
Don’t panic — What appear to be scratches on a vessel may be an illusion caused by improperly applied LED lighting Imagine looking into a sight glass for a routine tank inspection, and seeing for the first time numerous scratches…
When hoppers are designed without consideration of the actual materials being handled, problems inevitably arise. Follow this guidance to avoid common solids-handling issues, such as erratic flow and no flow Pivotal work on the development of the theory of bulk…
Removing contaminants from water is a critical operation in the chemical process industries (CPI). The goal of treatment processes is to reduce the relevant contaminants to the extent required by the application. This column provides information on major categories of…