Last month, Uralchem OJSC (Moscow, Russia; www.uralchem.com) started production of a new fertilizer, called ASN 32:0:0:5, at Kirov-Chepetsk Chemical Works, OSJ. Granules of the new ASN formulation have a gradient structure with a high concentration of ammonium sulfate on the…
A new pilot reactor — claimed to be the world’s first, complete two-step supersonic reactor — for producing nanoparticles has started operation at the Technology Service Center of the Wolfgang Industrial Park (IPW) GmbH, a subsidiary of Evonik Industries AG…
Researchers at the Max-Planck-Institut für Kohlenforschung (Mülheim, Germany; www.mpi-muelheim.mpg.de/kofo) have demonstrated that solid acids are powerful catalysts for the hydrolysis of cellulose dissolved in an ionic liquid. Even the cellulose fraction of wood, which is predominantly lignocellulose, can be hydrolyzed…
Uhde GmbH (Dortmund, Germany; www.uhde.biz) has commercialized a new gasifier design, the Prenflo (pressurized entrained-flow) with Direct Quench (PDQ) process, which is an optimized design of its Prenflo PSG gasification process for applications requiring hydrogen-rich syngas generation (ammonia, methanol, H2,…
Researchers at the Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics (China; www.english.dicp.ac.cn) and the University of Delaware (Newark; www.che.udel.edu) are developing a tungsten-carbide/nickel catalyst that degrades cellulose into polyols at 245°C and 60 atm. The catalyst is believed to facilitate hydrolysis and…
Tantaline (Lyngby, Demnark; www.tantaline.com) has developed a process that creates a surface alloy of tantalum on a metal substrate (typically stainless steel). As a result, the surface acquires the corrosion resistance of tantalum — the most corrosion resistant metal commercially available…
Researchers at the National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST; Tsukuba, Japan; www.aist.go.jp), and the University of Tokyo have developed new photocatalysts that are more efficient at decomposing volatile organic compounds (VOCs) than the commonly used titanium dioxide.…
Crane ChemPharma Flow Solutions (Düsseldorf, Germany; www.cranechempharma.com) has developed a new compound diaphragm, the DEPA E4, which is said to increase life span, improve safety and increase efficiency of air-operated diaphragm pumps. The laminated design of the DEPA E4 ensures…
NanoEthics: The Ethical and Social Implications of Nanotechnology. Edited by Fritz Allhoff, Patrick Lin, James Moor, John Weckert. John Wiley and Sons, Inc. 111 River St., Hoboken, NJ 07030. 2007. 385 pages, $39.95, paperback. Reviewed by Christopher M. Kelty, Department…
Training and Parts Aid in Compressed-Air System Maintenance This company is offering a free interactive Air System Maintenance CD that details common maintenance functions for rotary screw compressors, refrigerated and desiccant dryers, filters and drains. Using instructional video, voice…