Rare-earth materials are a crucial part of high-performance magnets in many electronic devices. Right now, only about 5% of these magnets are recycled, but tapping into end-of-life electronics is a promising and more sustainable source for rare-earth materials, the vast…
Using proper installation practices and adhering to maintenance schedules helps ensure reliable operation of safety-relief valves Safety-relief valves are critical components of any pressurized system. In fact, a functioning safety-relief valve could be the most important piece of equipment on…
Henry Kister shares lessons learned from troubleshooting distillation towers In my courses, I discuss the effect of column operating pressure on flooding and capacity. There are two counteracting effects: The volatility effect increases in importance at higher pressures and for…
Organized by The Water Environment Federation (Alexandria, Va.; www.wef.org), this year’s Weftec conference and exhibition is taking place October 8–12 in New Orleans, La. Focusing on the water and wastewater industries, the event will feature a large exhibit hall, an…
CellScrew is a patented cell-cultivation system for biotechnology laboratories, which is constructed fully of plant-based materials — a first for the industry. At launch, there are two different versions that differ in the size of the growth surface: the CS10k…
Milling active ingredients combines equipment selection, material characterization, and process characterization, with the aim of improving and controlling the properties of the solid crystalline drug substance. These topics are discussed here Milling is a common technique used for the reduction…
Membrane-supported processes can bring many benefits in water-treatment applications where membranes have not traditionally been used Reverse osmosis (RO) is the standard treatment technology for purifying water supplies for potable water applications and many industrial processes. One of four crossflow,…
A new paper material developed at Northeastern University (Boston, Mass.; www.northeastern.edu) is capable of passive cooling, potentially reducing the energy load required for air conditioning in buildings. “The paper is made from fibers of a calcium-based material called hydroxyapatite. The…
This company’s self-cleaning filters (photo) remove oversized particles from process or wastewater flows of up to 2,500 gal/min without filter elements or bags. Removing particulate matter enhances the quality of products, such as oil-based or latex paints, solvent-based or waterborne…
Electrochemically reducing carbon dioxide to carbon monoxide offers a pathway to use CO2 as a feedstock, but the reaction is challenging because it requires catalyst molecules and dissolved CO2 to meet on the electrode surface. One approach to help this…