Drones are quickly entering the chemical processing space as more companies begin to embrace their use for inspection and monitoring tasks There is no doubt that drones, or unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), hold many promising opportunities for the chemical process…
A micro portable pesticide detector for food analysis, called a Handheld Pesticide Residue Detector, has been developed by the Smart Microsystems Technology Center of the Industrial Technology Research Institute (ITRI, Hsinchu City, Taiwan; www.itri.org.tw). The detector is based on the…
With proper planning, spills can be managed properly and the risk of secondary events — which may be more dangerous and costly — can be reduced Spills are probably one of the biggest problems any laboratory or pilot plant operation…
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA; Washington, D.C.; www.epa.gov) has recently announced the winners of this year’s Presidential Green Chemistry Challenge Awards. This recognition is given for innovations that create business opportunities from solutions to potential environmental problems — endeavors…
Chemical engineers bring many essential skills to the diverse teams required for successful control room design In any continuous manufacturing plant in the chemical process industries (CPI), engineers need to consider control room architecture and design as part of their…
The following is a list of selected recently published books that may have interest to professionals in the chemical process industries (CPI). Standards and Typical Specifications for Tray-Type Dearators, 10th ed., by the Heat Exchange Institute (HEI), www.heatexchange.org, 2017, $150.…
On May 31, Climeworks (Hinwill/Zurich, Switzerland; www.climeworks.com) inaugurated its — and the world’s — first commercial plant that captures CO2 directly from air. The Direct Air Capture (DAC) facility, located at the waste-utilization plant of KEZO in Hinwill, Switzerland, will…
When installing rupture discs, there are several mechanical and operational considerations for reducing the likelihood of leaks and fugitive emissions Overpressure relief systems consisting of rupture discs and relief valves are vital for preventing damage and injury within chemical processing…
Successful operation of safety valves in steam systems requires careful adherence to established industry standards for installation and design One of the most critical safety devices in a steam system is the safety valve. Figure 1 is an illustration of…
The American Chemistry Council (ACC; Washington, D.C.; www.americanchemistry.com) presented its Responsible Care Company of the Year award today to three companies: Ethyl Corporation in the small size category, FMC Corporation in the medium size category and BASF Corporation in the…