Latest News: Technologies
‘Nanoboxes’ promise to boost energy capacity of lithium-ion batteries
Researchers from Singapore’s Institute of Bioengineering and Nanotechnology (IBN; www.ibn.a-star.edu.sg) and Hydro-Quebec’s Research Institute (Montreal, Canada; www.hydro.qc.ca) have synthetized silicate-based “nanoboxes” that could greatly increase the energy capacity of lithium-ion batteries as compared to that of conventional phosphate-based cathodes. IBN’s…
Startup for a new coal-gasification process
IHI Corp. (IHI; Tokyo, www.ihi.co.jp) has commissioned its first prototype Twin IHI Gasifier (TIGAR) plant, which IHI designed and built at the Kujang Factory of PT Pupuk Indonesia Holding Co., Indonesia’s largest state-owned fertilizer company, 75 km southeast of Jakarta.…
Two new product families offer help for biofuel producers
Two families of newly developed products from specialty chemical maker Solenis (Wilmington, Del.; www.solenis.com) — a portfolio of fermentation aids and scale inhibitors — have the potential to improve the production of bioethanol and related fermentation processes. Solenis fermentation aids…
This solvent-extraction process can monetize tough refinery sludges
Construction has begun on a commercial prototype of a low-boiling-point solvent-extraction process for recovering used catalyst powder and slurry oil from a recalcitrant sludge produced in the fluid catalytic cracking units (FCCUs) of petroleum refineries. The process allows refiners to…
A system to extract energy from waste gases
Many chemical process industries (CPI) operations generate gaseous byproducts that are impure and have low energy densities. Ener-Core Power Inc. (Irvine, Calif.; www.ener-core.com) has introduced a technology to extract valuable energy and heat from gases that would otherwise be wasted…
June Chementator Briefs
Hydrocracking Later this year, Albemarle Corp. (Baton Rouge, La.; www.albemarle.com) says it will add a new catalyst to its STARS (super type II active reactive sites) catalysts portfolio. Together with its Hydroprocessing Alliance partner, UOP LLC (Des Plaines, Ill.; www.uop.com),…
Making hydrogen directly from Si nanoparticles
A safe, low-cost technology for supplying H2 to fuel-cell powered vehicles is being developed by researchers at Nisshin Kasei Co. (Osaka, Japan; www.nisshinkasei.co.jp). Unlike alternative methods that store H2 by adsorption on solid materials at high pressure, Nisshin is utilizing…
Pilot plant slated for a fast-pyrolysis process that converts biomass into fuels
Plans are underway to build a pilot plant for a fast-pyrolysis process that will convert 10 ton/d of biomass into bio-oil and bio-char. The bio-oil can be used as renewable fuel oil or catalytically upgraded to transportation fuels, while the…
A smart app for pump monitoring
At Achema 2015 (June 15–19; Frankfurt, Germany), KSB AG (Frankenthal, Germany; www.ksb.com) will launch a new smartphone application (app) that enables non-specialists to quickly determine the power consumption of a pump during operation. Within seconds, the user can know if…
Smart polymers enhance coatings to reduce fouling
Scientists from Singapore, including Vivek Vasantha from A*STAR – The Agency for Science, Technology and Research (www.a-star.edu.sg) – developed a new block copolymer that can change its structure when placed in an electrolyte solution, such as salt water. The monomers…