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Processing & Handling

Sanitize, Analyze and Optimize Bioprocessing Operations

Better designs and improved monitoring and control technologies lead to higher efficiencies While bioprocessing can be challenging due to the sanitation requirements and exacting processes, new technologies are allowing bioprocessors to more easily sanitize, analyze and optimize their processes in…

Facts At Your Fingertips: Design Considerations for Pneumatic Conveying

Attention to the design of bulk-solids pneumatic-conveying pipelines can help avoid conveying-system problems, such as low conveying rates, plugging, excessive wear-and-tear in the conveying line, high conveying-system pressure drop, product breakage, fines generation and product cross-contamination. This one-page reference provides…

Technology Profile: Production of Linear Alpha Olefins

Linear alpha olefins (LAOs) are hydrocarbons with the chemical formula CnH2n, characterized by linear chains and one double bond at the alpha position (Figure 1). Such hydrocarbons are important chemical intermediates, widely used in several industrial and consumer products according…

A System Approach with Flow Analysis

Taking a system approach to find the root cause of a problem can be more beneficial than simply replacing a problematic pump. This article explains why We want the best reliability with anything that we work with. In a plant…

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Field Calibration of DP Flowmeters: Best Practices

Improved understanding of differential pressure (DP) flowmeter operation, along with best calibration practices, reduces maintenance errors Utilizing an orifice plate installed in a pipe and accurately measuring the differential pressure (DP) to calculate flow is one of most common methods…

CE Podcast: Swagelok engineers discuss grab-sampling

In this episode of the Chemical Engineering podcast, senior editor Scott Jenkins speaks with Matt Dixon and Karim Mahraz, both engineers at Swagelok and experts on grab-sampling systems. Matt and Karim discuss the most common problems associated with grab sampling…

Recently Published Books for the CPI: September 2021

Here are recently published books with relevance to the chemical process industries (CPI). September 2021.  Engineering of Power Plant and Industrial Cooling Water Systems. By Charles F. Bowman and Seth N. Bowman, CRC Press, 2021, 174 pages, $71.96. 2021 Guide…

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High-pressure fermentation for optimizing CO2 utilization

Biological processes can be used for the conversion of greenhouse gases into added-value chemicals. With a new, unique high-pressure (up to 10 bars) fermenter, the Flemish Institute for Technology Research (VITO; Mol, Belgium; www.vito.be) is researching how these processes can…

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Cost-efficient, on-purpose 1,5-PDO from bio-based starting material

Construction is underway on a demonstration plant for manufacturing 1,5-pentanediol (1,5-PDO) from bio-based furfural, a platform chemical that can be derived from plant-based hemicellulose sugars. The process under construction by the company Pyran Inc. (Madison, Wis.; www.pyranco.com) offers a lower-cost…

Fibrous catalyst support boosts yields and reduces coke buildup

A new fibrous catalyst-support material can enhance a wide range of industrial catalytic reactions, allowing higher yields and reduced coke buildup compared to pellet supports. Unifrax (Tonawanda, N.Y.; www.unifrax.com) leveraged its expertise in ceramic materials to develop the high-alumina fiber…