Designed for pumping hazardous and chemically aggressive liquids, this seal-less PTFE/PFA-lined chemical pump complies with DIN EN 22858 and Atex. The pump provides virtually leak-free operation and unrestricted corrosion resistance, even at temperatures of 160°C and higher. The pump features…
Friction Factor Fluid flowing through pipes experiences resistance due to viscosity, turbulence and roughness of the pipe surface. The Darcy-Weisbach Equation (1) is commonly used for the analysis of steady-state, Newtonian-fluid flow inside pipes. It summarizes the relations between frictional…
This brief introduction to nanotechnology provides a basic understanding to those new to the field Most chemical engineers and chemists are aware of the recent excitement generated by nanotechnology, but many may wonder what all the fuss is about. Nanotechnology…
Mitsunori Shimura and colleagues at the R&D Center of Chiyoda Corp. (Yokohama, Japan; www.chiyoda.co.jp) have developed a new catalyst for producing a synthesis gas (syngas; hydrogen and carbon monoxide) from steam reforming of methane. The catalyst consists of precious metals…
In late 2009, Microbia PE, Inc. (Lexington, Mass.; www.microbia-pe.com) will begin commercialization of its initial carotenoid products. Microbia plans to produce β-carotene, astaxanthin, zeaxanthin, cathaxanthin and lutein — all five carotenoid products that currently have significant commercial value. These carotenoids…
Here, a design approach for continuous stirred-tank reactors is outlined for both reversible and irreversible second-order reactions Multiple CSTRs (continuous stirred-tank reactors) are advantageous in situations where the reaction is slow; two immiscible liquids are present and require higher agitation…
Frequently, in chemical processing equipment it is possible to place the shaft support bearings in the chemical that is being processed. In some cases, this precludes the use of oil- or grease-lubricated bearings because the operating conditions are not conducive…
Lummus Technology, a CB&I company (The Woodlands, Tex.; www.cbi.com) and SYN Energy Technology Co. (Dalian, China; www.syn.ac.cn) have signed a global, cooperative market agreement to license a methanol-to-olefins (MTO) process. The technology, called DMTO, was developed by the Dalian…
Researchers at the Nanotube Research Center of the National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST; Tokyo; www.aist.go.jp) have developed a process for making organic nanotubes of metal complexes (photo, left). The scientists have produced organic nanotubes with metal…
When completed in early 2010, Shell Chemicals’ B.V. (The Hague, Netherlands; www.shell.com) 750,000-m.t./yr facility at the Shell Eastern Petrochemicals Complex in Singapore will be the world’s largest plant to produce mono-ethylene glycol (MEG) using Shell’s Omega process. This plant marks…