Alcoa Inc. (Pittsburgh, Pa.; www.alcoa.com) has developed a hybrid technique, called Ampliforge (diagram), that combines additive manufacturing (3-D printing) and advanced forging techniques to improve the performance and reduce the cost of metal aerospace components. The company has produced prototype…
Researchers from Cornell University (Ithaca, N.Y.; www.cornell.edu) have developed an oxygen-assisted, Al/CO2 electrochemical cell that converts CO2 into a useful product while producing electricity. This represents a possible paradigm shift from most current carbon-capture models, says Lynden Archer, the James…
Plant Watch Cepsa to build new m-xylene unit under supply agreement with Indorama August 9, 2016 — Following a supply agreement with Indorama Ventures Public Ltd. (IVL; Bangkok, Thailand; www.indorama.net), Compañía Española de Petróleos S.A.U. (Cepsa; Madrid, Spain; www.cepsa.com) will…
Developments in redox flow batteries are moving at a tremendous pace to meet the growing need for large-scale energy-storage systems, which are used for stabilizing electric power distribution The global energy-storage market is expected to double, from 1.4 GWh added…
Industrial mobile apps help chemical processors overcome process, maintenance and inventory issues Due to the portability and propagation of smartphones and tablets, mobility is all around us. Plugging in on the fly has become second nature in our personal lives…
Traditional classes of drying equipment are being adapted for use in a growing number of applications, and more complex analysis and process control are helping to optimize processes The chemical process industries (CPI) are full of processes in which a…
Waterborne polyurethane brings functionality to textiles Waterborne polyurethane coatings (photo) bring a range of functionalities, effects, finishes and color to textile materials for textile applications ranging from fashion and sportswear to automotive upholstery and protective gloves. This company’s family of…
Jacobs Engineering Group Inc. (Pasadena, Calif.; www.jacobs.com) has acquired the patent rights for Bayqik quasi-isothermal sulfuric acid converter technology and other related technology from Bayer AG (Leverkusen, Germany; www.bayer.com). Under the terms of the agreement, the technology transfer includes all…
Global Bioenergies (Evry, France; www.global-bioenergies.com) and Cristal Union have announced that their subsidiary, IBN-One has awarded the first engineering contracts for its bio-isobutene plant to Technip (Paris, France; www.technip.com) and IPSB. Following a consultation process by IBN-One in spring 2016,…
KBR, Inc. (Houston; www.kbr.com) says that Placid Refining Company LLC has successfully started up a grassroots dividing wall column (DWC) reformate splitter at their Port Allen, Louisiana, refinery. KBR's Distill-Max DWC technology was selected for this application during Placid Refining…