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Ethylene Glycol Production

Monoethylene glycol (MEG), also known as ethylene glycol (EG) or simply glycol, is a diol mostly used for the production of polyester fibers and polyethylene terephthalate (PET) resins. It is also used in antifreeze applications and in pharmaceuticals and cosmetics.…

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Industrial Adsorbents

Industrially, adsorbent materials are used in a wide range of applications, including purification, separations, drying, spill management, catalysis, pollution control and others across a large number of industrial sectors. This column provides an overview of the major classes of industrial…

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Pipe Insulation: Finding the Optimal Thickness

Avoid tedious numerical calculation by using this quick, shortcut method Insulated pipes are important in many applications in the chemical process industries (CPI). When it comes to the insulation itself, the two main questions are: which material should be used;…

Using Laser Diffraction to Characterize Heterogeneous Catalysts

The capabilities of laser diffraction systems go beyond particle-size analysis to also predict a catalyst’s propensity to experience attrition Heterogeneous catalysts, where the catalyst is in solid form, enhance many of the gas- and liquid-phase reactions that underpin common operations…

Optimizing Flare Operation Through Proper Design

Flare problems are often caused by the seal systems that are designed to control air ingress. Follow these troubleshooting guidelines to improve design and ensure safe, reliable flare operation Flares are used to dispose of unwanted hydrocarbon gases. One common…

Emissions Regulations and Control

Harnessing new technologies for best practices in pollution control could lead to a more ideal framework of policies and programs Fugitive emissions are managed in a variety of ways around the world, ranging from detailed prescriptive control to suggested guidance.…

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Production of Polylactic Acid

Polylactic acid (PLA) is the biodegradable polymer of lactic acid, which is produced via fermentation processes. For the last five decades, PLA has been mainly used in biomedical applications. The development of economical production routes and a rising environmental awareness…

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Variable Frequency Drives

Electric alternating current (a.c.) motors power all types of equipment in the chemical process industries (CPI), including pumps, fans, blowers, compressors and other types of process equipment. Electric motor systems offer opportunities for reductions in power consumption because while some…

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A Universal Equation for Designing Pipelines

The pipe-flow equation presented here can be used to properly and easily size pipelines for liquid, vapor and two-phase flow. Example calculations are also shown Sizing pipelines is a fundamental task for design engineers, who typically use several equations to…

Improving the Operability of Process Plants

Turndown and rangeability have a big impact on the flexibility and efficiency of chemical process operations  During the design of a chemical process plant, the main focus is on which process units or unit operations must be integrated to convert…