Processing & Handling
A fine filter
Last month, W. L. Gore & Associates (Gore; Elkton, Md.; www.gore.com) introduced what is claimed to be the worlds first 20-nm-rated polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) filter that is available in a high-density polyethylene (HDPE) cartridge. Compared to conventional filtration media, this new…
Biobutanol to be produced at retrofitted ethanol plant
The first commercial-scale biobutanol plant using the Gevo Integrated Fermentation Technology (GIFT) process is set to come online in mid-2012 at the former site of an ethanol facility in Minnesota. In late January, Gevo (Englewood, Colo.; www.gevo.com) was awarded a…
This ball valve has a one-piece cast body
KTM Unibody EB700 ball valves have a one piece, cast body to minimize potential leak paths and improve safety compared to split-body designs. The EB700 series has a rugged design with a seat made from a co-polymer of polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE)…
Adding gallium to biomass pyrolysis catalyst increases BTX yield
A new catalyst design, in which gallium atoms are integrated into the zeolite catalyst structure, can increase yields of aromatic compounds from biomass by 40% in a catalytic fast-pyrolysis process. The higher yields of benzene, toluene and xylenes (BTX), as…
Simplifying the Use of Pipe-flow Friction-Factors
The Nikuradse-Prandtl-von Karman (NPK) equation is the most widely used expression to determine friction factors for fluid flow in smooth pipes [1–3]. It implicitly relates the friction factor (expressed here as f; sometimes called λ) to the Reynolds number, Re.…
Sample corrosive or toxic process fluids with this device
The LSS-30-PP is a sampling system designed to allow sampling of hazardous process fluids without personnel contact. The LSS-30-PP is similar in design to the LSS-140-ST from this company, but has a smaller sample cylinder (300 mL), and has wetted…
Improved heavy-crude conversion process boosts diesel yields
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.;…
Selecting Two- and Four-wire Magnetic Flowmeters
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…
Prevent wear and cavitation with this coating
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…
Composites that can enhance forward osmosis
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…