Processing & Handling
U.S. production is scheduled for a critical metal
China produces about 98% of the world’s electrolytic manganese metal (EMM), a vital ingredient used in specialty steels, aluminum and electronics. In contrast, the U.S. produces no EMM, says Nick Weir, an executive with U.S. American Manganese Inc. (AMY; White…
A high-performance electrode material for lithium-ion batteries
A huge market for lithium ion batteries is expected to develop as car makers move toward electric vehicles. However, improvements in the batteries’ energy and power density are needed. It is also desirable to replace the common, high-cost lithium cobalt…
Making crude oil from coal, without mining or combustion
An underground coal-to-liquids (UCTL) technology is undergoing pilot testing at Oak Park, near Melbourne Australia, where a metric ton of brown coal is expected to yield about one barrel of oil suitable for use as refinery feedstock on an oil-parity…
Dewatering enzymes boost ethanol production efficiency
A technique that improves the efficiency of ethanol plants by lowering the cost of dewatering the byproduct stillage (a slurry of corn solids and water) from the fermentation process has been developed by scientists at the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s…
A new heterogeneous catalyst for low-temperature VOC decomposition
Professor Yuki Taniguchi at the Chemicals Research Institute, Tokyo Institute of Technology (Japan, www.res.titech.ac.jp/~gosei/taniguchi/index.html) has developed a new catalyst system that decomposes volatile organic compounds (VOCs) at lower temperatures than that required by conventional catalysts. The SILP (supported ionic liquid…
Extra protection for pumping heat-transfer fluids
The Etanorm SYT heat-transfer-liquid pump features a new VenJet venting device, which ensures that the low-boiling fractions or water vapor do not get near the plain bearing or mechanical seal. The new pump features several design improvements. For example, the…
Chemical-resistant tubing with higher pressure rating
This company is replacing its Tygon 2075 tubing line with the Tygon 2375 Ultra Chemical Resistant Tubing, providing an improved pressure rating, outstanding chemical resistance and superior flexibility. A clear non-DEHP high-purity tube, Tygon 2375 can be disposed of safely…
Making Pump Maintenance Mandatory
One of the key components in the operational success of chemical process industries (CPI) facilities is the transfer pump. These pumps must handle a wide variety of materials under a broad range of operating conditions. These diverse operational conditions may…
A booster for quick, precise control of large valves
In most process control applications, larger valves tend to be fitted with pneumatic actuators that provide significant positioning forces. In these situations, the positioner is used to precisely position the valve by filling the actuator with the corresponding amount of…
Improved LPLC with this metering pump
The new EcoPrime metering pump delivers a precise flowrate in low-pressure liquid chromatography (LPLC) systems, and provides a linear gradient between 0.5 and 99.5% — with 0.5% accuracy. Traditional systems only work linearly over a range between 20 and 70%,…