Processing & Handling
A single-mode FO interface extends the range to 15 km
Expanding demand for the use of fiber optics (FO) as a field data-transfer solution has led to this company’s introduction of a single-mode FO interface (photo) capable of supporting automation solutions with a range of up to 15 km between…
Reforming ethanol into hydrogen
A group from the University of Canterbury (www.canterbury.ac.nz), and Industrial Research Ltd. (both Christchurch, New Zealand; www.irl.cri.nz), has produced hydrogen from ethanol via steam reforming in a non-thermal plasma reactor. The project is part of an Industrial Research concept called…
Making biodiesel with SC methanol
A team from the School of Chemical Engineering, Universiti Sains Malaysia (Penang; www.eng.usm.my) has carried out a study for optimizing non-catalytic supercritical (SC) methanol extraction and transesterification of Jatropha curcas seeds to produce biodiesel fuel. Jatropha curcas is a species…
This gold catalyst takes the crown for high activity and selectivity
Gold catalysts have been shown to have superior activities for oxidation reactions, especially at low temperature, compared to other metal-based catalysts. But the high price of gold makes it necessary to develop Au catalysts with ever-higher activities, reducing the amount…
PDVSA will commercialize a heavy-oil upgrading process
Venezuela’s state-run petroleum company, PDVSA Petroleo, S.A. (PDVSA, Caracas; www.pdvsa.com), will commercialize a company-developed process for upgrading heavy crude oil in its Puerto La Cruz refinery, about 300 km (190 miles) east of Caracas. The 210,000-bbl/d plant will employ PDVSA’s…
Demo plant for high-yield biomass-to-gasoline process under construction
Construction of a demonstration plant has begun for a biomass-to-gasoline process that boosts biomass conversion efficiency in producing bio-gasoline. The demonstration, to be located at the Hillsborough, N.J. headquarters of Primus Green Energy (www.primusge.com), is slated for completion in the…
Achieve shorter batch times with this homogenizer
The S-Jet/V is the newest version of the S-Jet range of homogenizers, and was developed to handle a very large amount of solid input. By the changed geometry of the rotor/stator system and increased pumping power, the possible metering of…
Making amides with high yield, less waste
A catalyst for making amides from alcohols and amines under aerobic conditions has been developed by Professor Shu Kobayashi and his research group at the University of Tokyo (Tokyo, www.chem.s.u-tokyo.ac.jp/users/synorg/index_e.html). The catalyst — nano particles (2.4-nm dia.) of gold and…
Optical cavity furnace can boost solar cell efficiency
Using an array of lamps inside a highly reflective chamber, the optical cavity furnace (OCF) takes advantage of photonics effects to help manufacture solar photovoltaic cells with higher efficiency than those made by conventional rapid-thermal-processing (RTP) methods. In addition, the…
Ground this piping system without wires
The patented Earthing Bridge is now complimented with a new model — the Universal Earthing Bridge. The new version replaces the earthing cable traditionally used for electrostatic grounding of pipe systems. The bridge is fixed to the company’s pull-ring using…