Processing & Handling
Ten Things You May Not Know About Liquid Mixing Scaleup
The scaleup of liquid mixing systems does not have to be a mystery. The principles are quite well understood, although knowing which principles apply is not always obvious. Follow this guidance to improve operation. 1. Liquid mixing scaleup. Liquid mixing…
Polymer-based Piping
Polymer-based piping systems offer a number of advantages, along with some limitations, compared to metallic and other non-polymeric pipe materials. The use of thermoplastic piping in the chemical process industries (CPI) must be carefully considered on a case-by-case basis because…
AODD pumps now feature a conductive PTFE diaphragm
This company’s E-Series Plastic AODD (air-operated double-diaphragm) pumps have been upgraded with electrically conductive polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) diaphragms (photo) to provide safer transfer of chemicals while avoiding electrostatic discharge. As a result, E-Series pumps equipped with conductive PTFE diaphragms can be…
This CO2 compressor is the biggest ever
Launched in May, the new semi-hermetic, six-cylinder GEA Block piston compressor HG46 CO2 T has a displacement of 21.8 to 30.3 m3/h. It is said to be the biggest semi-hermetic compressor for transcritical CO2 applications with operating pressures of up…
This modular piping system is approved for handling foodstuffs
The new Food Grade range of pipework systems is said to be the first product range on the market that meets the stringent requirements of the European standard EC 1935/2004, as well as the U.S. Food and Drug Admin. (FDA)…
Bio-butanol scaleup moves ahead with trials
In April development tests, Cobalt Technologies (Cobalt; Mountain View, Calif; www.cobalttech.com) produced n -butanol at the fermentation scale of 100 m3 per run, demonstrating lower production cost than butanol produced from petroleum. This represents production that is a factor of…
Improved corrosion control in refinery steam systems
GE Power & Water (Trevose, Pa.; www.ge.com) has introduced a novel, dual-pronged approach to corrosion inhibition for boiler and steam-condensate systems in petroleum refineries. The technology is designed to prevent attack by acidic species on steam-system surfaces, providing reliability to…
A bio-butadiene plant is planned
On the heels of its successful scaleup of bio-butanol, Cobalt is looking for pathways to use that molecule as a building block for other products. The company has announced plans to build the first bio-butadiene plant in Asia. Projected to…
Nanowires improve the properties of metal composites
Freestanding nanowires exhibit ultrahigh elastic-strain limits (of up to 7%) and yield strengths. However, it has been difficult to exploit their properties in bulk composites, due to the mismatch between the elasticity of the nanowires and the elasticity of the…
A biotech process that might benefit sharks
Squalane, an emollient used in cosmetics, will be the first product of a biotechnology pilot plant now being started up by Nucelis Inc. (San Diego, Calif.; www.nucelis.com), a spin-off from Cibus (also of San Diego). The plant will use Cibus’…