Processing & Handling
Mixing: Impeller Performance in Stirred Tanks
Characterizing mixer impellers on the basis of power, flow, shear and efficiency Mixing has been defined as “the application of mechanical motion in order to create fluid dynamic effects that achieve a desired process result” [1]. The process result is…
A first commercial step towards on-site ammonia production
A new company — Tsubame BHB Co., Ltd. (Tokyo, Japan; www.tsubame-bhb.co.jp) — has been established to commercialize the world’s first on-site production of ammonia for supplying amino-acid synthesis, fermentation materials and fertilizers. The company — a joint venture of Ajinomoto…
Responsive coatings lead to stronger 3-D-printed parts
Additive manufacturing (3-D printing) has quickly gained popularity, due in part to its potential for rapidly creating customized parts. However, one inherent limitation of additive manufacturing — specifically the high-speed fused deposition modeling (FDM) technique — is the potential for…
Electrostatic spray drying protects heat-sensitive products
A spray-drying technology that applies an electrical charge to feedstock as it exits the atomizing nozzle allows significant reductions in processing temperature and can eliminate downstream processing steps. The charge application can improve control over particle morphology, lengthen shelflife of…
Nitric Acid in the Spotlight
Efforts continue to make nitric-acid production more efficient with lower emissions of greenhouse gases Like the ammonia used to make it, nitric acid (NA) continues to be produced by a process nearly a century old — the Ostwald process. Although…
Facts at Your Fingertips: Zeolites
The physical properties of zeolites make them extremely important in many industrial processes. This one-page reference provides information on the structure and chemistry of zeolites that allows their use in the chemical process industries (CPI). Zeolite structure Zeolites are a…
Technology Profile: Urea Production from Ammonia via a Self-Stripping Process
This column is based on “Prilled Urea from Ammonia via Self-Stripping Process – Cost Analysis,” a report published by Intratec. It can be found at: www.intratec.us/analysis/urea-production-cost. Urea is a nitrogenous compound consisting of a carbonyl group attached to two amine…
Activated Carbon: Fundamentals and New Applications
Activated carbon sorbents are important tools in water purification and air-pollution control. This article provides information on the fundamentals of this diverse sorbent and on new applications for which it is being employed Global sustainability trends are creating increased demand…
Storage Tanks: Heating and Cooling System Design
Various heating or cooling options are described here, along with the factors and design parameters that need to be considered. A sample calculation regarding coils is included Tanks constitute important equipment in the chemical process industries (CPI). Various types of…
Pump Selection Considerations
A number of factors need to be considered to properly size and specify a vacuum pump. In some of our previous posts, we've discussed topics like how to determine the right flow rate for your new pump. Considerations such as…