A group of scientists from Fudan University (Shanghai, China; www.fudan.ac.cn) China, has reported what it claims to be the first example of artificial single-molecular water channels that can transport water across lipid membranes. Transmembrane water transport — through water channel…
In the development process for coal-bed methane, water is produced from wells. It is high-salinity water, with total dissolved solids (TDS) generally at least 1,000 mg/L. The main concern with coal-bed methane co-produced water is the amount of Na+ and…
A consortium of companies — Laricina Energy Ltd., Nexen Inc., Suncor Energy Inc. and Harris Corp. — has completed its initial-phase testing of the Enhanced Solvent Extraction Incorporating Electromagnetic Heating (ESEIEH) project at Suncors Steepbank mine facility north of Fort…
A recently launched, polymer-coated, fumed silica additive improves the performance of structural adhesives — those designed to bear loads. The new additive is capable of reducing the adhesive’s application viscosity, while simultaneously improving its ability to maintain a bead profile…
A variety of performance problems can arise in distillation towers during startup. Many are caused by equipment, hardware or process conditions. Hardware issues may be related to instrumentation, tower internals or ancillaries. Instrumentation malfunctions are also common during startup and…
After eight years of R&D work, Inflotek B.V. (Beringe, The Netherlands; www.) is now commercializing a range of metal screens made with a proprietary, waterjet-cutting technology. Compared to conventional waterjet-cutting methods, Inflotek’s process can reliably make hundreds of perforations per…
India holds large reserves of low-grade sulfide copper ore containing 0.3 wt.% copper, which cannot be processed through conventional routes since the cut-off grade for treatment in concentrators is about 0.45 wt.%. India is in short supply of copper and…
Electrochemical and chemical-precipitation technology from New Sky Energy (Boulder, Colo.; www.newskyenergy.com) allows the conversion of salty wastewater and CO2 from fluegas into valuable process chemicals, such as soda ash, calcium carbonate, sulfuric acid, bleach and other chemicals. New Sky’s customizable…
Metals recovery Dinnissen Process Technology B.V. (Sevenum, The Netherlands; www.dinnissen.nl) has developed a purpose-built system to recover valuable metals — such as chrome and molybdenum — from highly viscous residual waste from the petrochemical industry. Such waste, which is often…
At Achema 2012 (June 18–22; Frankfurt am Main, Germany), Union Engineering A/S (Fredericia, Denmark; www.union.dk) will be presenting its patented FlashCO2 process — both at the exhibition (Hall 9.1, Stand E29) and in a congress lecture (Monday, June 18th at…