Processing & Handling
Chementator: Nanobatons trap oil . . . . . . as does nanopaper
Scientists at Rice University (Houston, Tex.; edlinks.chemengonline.com/7374-547) have shown how baton-shaped nanoparticles of metal and carbon can trap oil droplets in water by spontaneously assembling into tiny sacs. The particles — composed of hollow carbon nanotubes (hydrophobic) with a short…
Newsfront: Material Marvels
Much as the chemical process industries (CPI) themselves are always evolving, so too are the engineering materials that play a role behind the scenes. While they may not always make headlines as groundbreaking scientific technologies tend to do, new…
Facts at your Fingertips: Vacuum Pumps
Vacuum is any system of reduced pressure, relative to local (typically atmospheric) pressure. Achieved with a pump, vacuum systems are commonly used to: Remove excess air and its constituents Remove excess reactants or unwanted byproducts Reduce the boiling point Dry…
Closed Liquid Dispensing: Secure Container Contents While Reducing Risk
With the increasing demand for security, drums and other liquid vessels that contain valuable or hazardous liquids can be retrofitted with a simple dispensing-valve system that virtually eliminates leakage and ensures product integrity Although the storage, security, handling and dispensing…
Chementator: A clean, sustainable process for making surfactants
Alkylglyceryl ethers (AGEs) are biodegradable nonionic surfactants with excellent foaming and moisturizing properties. Up to now, AGEs have been made in batch reactors whereby the corresponding alkyl glycidyl ether (GE) is hydrolyzed in a solvent (alcohol or ethyleneglycol monoalkyl ether)…
Cover Story Part 1: Compressed Air: Exploring the Need For Temporary Systems
Compressed air is often referred to as the fourth utility, and yet for an upstart business or process there is no commercial infrastructure that provides a core supply as exists with gas, electricity and water. When a need for compressed…
Cover Story Part 2: Compressed Air: Your Most Expensive Utility
Compressed air is your most expensive utility. This is a fact that has been documented time and time again. It takes 7 to 8 hp of electricity to produce 1 hp in an airtool. In many plants, the compressed air…
Piping for Process Plants Part 6: Testing and Verification
This sixth and final part of a series of articles [ 1 – 5] on piping for process plants discusses practical issues of leak testing and verification of piping systems. Read Part 5 here. Leak Testing Leak testing and pressure…
Seals & Gaskets
In Poorly Lubricated Conditions, Try this Diamond Seal... Over 50% of pump lifecycle costs result from energy and maintenance; and applying the low-wear and low-friction attributes of diamond to mechanical seals can yield significant energy savings for fluid pumps. Ultrananocrystalline…
Chementator: A propane-based AN process makes its commercial debut
This summer, Asahi Kasei Chemicals Corp. (AKCC; Tokyo, Japan; edlinks.chemengonline.com/7373-532) plans to begin construction on a plant for producing 200,000 m.t./yr of acrylonitrile (AN) and a plant for making 70,000 m.t./yr of methyl methacrylate (MMA), at Map Ta Phut, Rayong,…