Why do governmental bodies regulate VOC (volatile organic compounds) emissions? Because these compounds react with nitrogen oxides to produce ground-level ozone. VOC emissions have many names: hazardous air pollutants (HAPs), non-condensable gases (NCGs), or just plain “organic vapors.”…
Regenerative thermal oxidizers (RTOs) are commonly used for controlling volatile organic compound (VOC) emissions from a broad spectrum of industries. An RTO is basically a thermal oxidizer that uses ceramic media as the heat exchanger medium, providing high…
Security is on everyone’s mind. Heightened awareness and concerns have affected the way we live and the way we work. Those of us who are part of the chemical process industries (CPI) and have a great respect for…
With the aim to commercialize a new process for making solar-cell grade (SOG) silicon, Chisso Corp. (Tokyo, Japan; edlinks.chemengonline.com/6891-534) is negotiating the possibility of establishing a joint-venture company with Nippon Mining Holdings, Inc. (Tokyo) and Toho Titanium Co., Ltd. (Chigasaki,…
November 17 was the deadline for states to submit their plans for the control of mercury emissions from power plants to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA, Washington D.C.; epa.gov), but mercury-control processes are already being commercialized. The…
Subsidiaries of Shell Oil Co. (Houston, Tex.; edlinks.chemengonline.com/6891-547) and Codexis, Inc. (Redwood City, Calif.; edlinks.chemengonline.com/6891-548) are collaborating to enhance methods of converting biomass to biofuels. Shell, already one of, if not the leading, distributor of transportation biofuels, says it is…
Chemicals, plastics, pharmaceutical, food, agricultural chemicals, coal and bio-chemical industries have a wide array of processes where the raw materials, intermediates and products are in particulate form. Hazards associated with particulate solids are unique, and in most cases…
When in 1997 a United Nations’ conference at Kyoto, Japan, called into being the Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), it seemed that greenhouse-gas emissions regulations were just around the corner. Not so fast, was the world’s answer.…
Portable and fixed detectors for toxic and flammable gases are offering more choice and better value for the money, say experts, thanks to technology developments and strong market competition. In Europe, competition triggered by consolidation in the last…
Accidents do happen. While not everything can be predicted, addressing safety concerns throughout the design of a process can help to prevent accidents from occurring. Designing with safety in mind can also help to minimize potentially serious consequences…