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…
Azotobacter are nitrogen-fixing bacteria that do a useful job in soil by converting N 2 to ammonia. As a side reaction they also produce hydrogen, most of which they oxidize for their own energy consumption. In a project of the…
Last month, Lanxess AG (Leverkusen, Germany; www.lanxess.com) launched Levotan X-Cel, an polymer mixture based on expandable microcapsules, for retannage in leather processing. With a diameter of 5 – 20 µm, the microcapsules are small enough to penetrate into the collagen…
Although ammonia is still made by the near-century-old Haber-Bosch process, today’s ammonia plants bear little resemblance to those early units — now literally decorating the lawns outside BASF in Ludwigshafen, and Dechema in Frankfurt, Germany. For one thing, the…
The role of valves in a process is far from insignificant. These components enable engineers to control the vitals of a process: temperature, pressure, concentration, and flow. In some cases, the failure of a valve could be catastrophic and in…
A method for identifying less-expensive catalysts, compared to commercial, precious-metal-based ones, is starting to deliver results by researchers at the Center for Atomic-scale Materials Design, Dept. of Physics, Technical University of Denmark (CAMD; Lyngby; www.camd.dtu.dk) and their collaborators. The computer-aided…
In order to make ethanol from cellulose, the polysaccharide must first be broken down into sugars (saccharrified) that can be fermented. Normally, this hydrolysis reaction is catalyzed by sulfuric acid or enzymes. However, H2SO4 -based hydrolysis generates spent acid, which…
Look here for an Easy, Sturdy Compressed-Air Piping System Newly available in 76- and 100-mm dia., SmartPipe is a modular, aluminum piping system boasting a low friction coefficient due to its smooth, calibrated construction. With its full-bore fittings and push-to-fit,…
Apilot plant that uses pressure swing adsorption (PSA) to extract helium from natural gas has been started up and is operating successfully in India at the Kuthalam Gas Collecting Station of Oil and Natural Gas Corp. (ONGC; www.ongcindia.com). Normally, helium…