This column is based on “Terephthalic Acid Production from p-Xylene — Cost Analysis,” a report published by Intratec. It can be found at: www.intratec.us/analysis/terephthalic-acid-production-cost. Terephthalic acid is an aromatic dicarboxylic acid, mainly used to produce saturated polyesters, primarily PET (polyethylene…
Understanding pump internals, especially the various sealing and coupling arrangements, is a critical step in selecting the optimal pump There is a significant risk for operators associated with the pump selection process. Economic issues, such as procurement and operating costs,…
Advancements in efficiency and the ability to handle a wide array of chemicals combine to make the air-operated double-diaphragm (AODD) pump a useful choice for chemical processors The circumstances surrounding the development of the air-operated double-diaphragm (AODD) pumping principle six…
This methodology facilitates multifactor testing. However, it comes at a price: a loss in power for detecting effects The traditional approach to experimentation — often referred to as the “scientific method” — requires changing only one factor at a time…
In one of our prior posts, we talked about the key differences between direct and indirect vacuum gauges. One of the most common direct gauge technologies is the capacitive gauge. This post will review how these gauges are constructed and…
FLASH AND FIRE POINTS IN HEAT TRANSFER FLUIDS Download as a PDF file FLASH POINT DEFINED A “flashpoint” is the temperature at which a fluid generates enough vapor to be ignited (“flash”). There are two common test methods: Open Cup (ASTM D92) and Closed…
Finding a vacuum gauge for monitoring chemical processes can be a challenge. There are few gauges that simultaneously cover the appropriate vacuum range with sufficient accuracy and have the ability to cope with regular exposure to aggressive chemicals. VACUUBRAND's VACUU·VIEW™…
Because vacuum technology spans 15 orders of magnitude (103 mbar - 10-12 mbar, or 760 torr - 10-12 torr), there is no single vacuum gauge that can cover the full range. Consequently, a number of different gauge technologies have…
Implementing microreactors in chemical production is quite a challenge. How these challenges can be met is described here At the heart of a chemical process is the reactor, where the conversion of reactants to products occurs. Depending on the need…
Another question that we often hear from our customers is, what pump do I need? The right answer depends upon a variety of factors - such as the nature of the process or application, the working pressure and/or flow rate…