A proprietary nanoscale catalyst and an updated engineering design have allowed higher conversion rates for transforming the heaviest fractions of crude oil, known as vacuum residue, into high-value transportation fuels, such as diesel. Developed by UOP LLC (Des Plaines, Ill.;…
To optimize process control and overall plant performance, magnetic flowmeters (mag meters) are the most widely used devices in many industrial flow-measurement applications. Mag meters are used to measure the flow of water and other conductive liquids by applying a…
Loctite Nordbak 7255 Sprayable Ceramic Coating is a two-part ceramic coating designed to protect metal surfaces of industrial equipment from wear, abrasion and corrosion. The product is packaged in a convenient, reusable, dual-cartridge dispenser (photo) and is sprayed onto metal…
Researchers from the Dept. of Chemical Engineering, Monash University (Clayton, Victoria, Australia; www.monash.edu), have reported on a new composite polymer hydrogel with light-absorbing particles incorporated within it, that can be used as draw agents in the forward osmosis (FO) process…
The Axxair range of pipe cutting, beveling and welding machines has been added to this company’s range of products. By simply exchanging motors, these machines can cut pipe, then bevel the ends and weld parts. The unit cuts stainless steel,…
A technique for protecting structural steel from fire using the endothermic decomposition of magnesium hydroxide has been developed by a team from the Dept. of Chemical Engineering and Materials Engineering, the University of Auckland (New Zealand; www.auckland.ac.nz). Led by professor…
Head loss due to friction for fluids traveling through pipes, tubes and ducts is a critical parameter for solving turbulent-flow problems in the chemical process industries. The Colebrook equation is used to assess hydraulic resistance for turbulent flow in both…
Outotec Oyj (Espoo, Finland; www.outotec.com) has introduced a new partial roasting process to purify copper and gold concentrates that are contaminated with arsenic, antimony and carbon. The process is a pretreatment stage for Cu- and Au-extraction plants, and enables the…
The Endura Series Dual Split Flange (DSF) swivel joint is specially designed to transfer acids, solvents, petrochemicals and other toxic fluids. The combination of the DSF swivel technology with user-friendly counterbalance solutions makes the Endura Series effective for performing effectively…
A challenge in recovering fissile material from spent nuclear fuel is separating radioactive components that cannot be reused as fuel. Researchers at Sandia National Laboratory (Albuquerque, N.M.; www.sandia.gov) have fabricated metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) capable of selectively capturing gaseous iodine from…