Processing & Handling
A disposable diaphragm valve for high-tech applications
This company has introduced the world’s first single-use diaphragm valve with pneumatic actuator, which allows a paradigm shift to single-use technology: from manual systems that can be automated for fault free operation and with complying documentation. In the manufacture of…
Eliminate valve noise before it’s born
Acoustical noise from control valves is not only potentially harmful to workers, but the vibrations can also cause damage to pipelines and other equipment. The new Neles Q2-Trim reduces noise up to 30 dB compared to a typical control valve.…
Small But Mighty
Sometimes the smallest parts — such as seals and gaskets — can have the greatest impact on plant performance. For this reason, seal and gasket manufacturers are developing innovative new materials and designs that will help these diminutive, but important,…
This metering pump is small, but accurate
Introduced at Achema 2012, the Chem Mini gear pump (photo) is particularly suited for precision metering tasks of low- to medium-viscosity media. The range covers low flow applications in classic transfer and metering tasks for all industries. For particularly critical…
A self-healing dynamic membrane
French researchers from the Institut Européen des Membranes (CNRS/ENSCM, Université Montpiellier; www.iemm.univ-mont2.fr) and the Institut de Chimie Radicalaire (CNRS, Aix-Marseille Université) have developed what is claimed to be the first dynamic membrane for water filtration that not only can adjust…
Create gas impurity standards to ppb levels
The Flexstream Gas Standards Generating System dynamically blends calibration gas standards for trace sulfur compounds in food-grade carbon dioxide. Specially designed permeation tubes add low-parts-per-billion (ppb) concentrations of typical sulfur species, including carbonyl sulfide, hydrogen sulfide and mercaptans, directly to…
The Biogas Boom
It probably isn’t going to solve all the world’s energy needs, but producing biogas from waste can help slash the energy bills at some production plants, sewage-treatment plants and even farms. And for those companies offering biogas technology, business is…
Development Speeds up In Catalysis
There might be as many categories of catalysts as there are chemical processing applications. And, no matter what the specialty or application, most catalyst producers are in a constant state of research and development in order to meet the demands…
Algae-harvesting technique applied to produced water
Technology originally developed for dewatering algae has shown success in separating hydrocarbons from produced water that results from oil and gas drilling. The method could be used in treating produced water for onsite re-use as hydraulic fracturing fluid. To harvest…
A step closer to replacing platinum in catalytic converters
The research group of Masaru Ogura, an associate professor at the Institute of Industrial Science, University of Tokyo (www.u-tokyo.ac.jp), has clarified the degradation mechanism and the role potassium carbonate plays in the catalyst systems used for reducing soot from the…