Removing solids from a stream of air or other gases is an important operation across virtually all sectors of the chemical process industries (CPI). In many cases, gas-solid separation is motivated by the need to reduce environmental impact and health…
Methods for controlling reboilers in distillation towers are central to good reboiler operation and tower stability. Control valves can be located in the steam-inlet line or in the condensate-outlet line. This article updates guidance for key considerations and practices using…
In continuous crystallization, it is often challenging to accurately measure mass flowrates, but the method described here enables a simpler path to a balanced crystallization process To gain optimal value from industrial crystallization processes, it is clear that understanding specific…
Removal of dissolved ions from industrial process water, boiler feedwater or wastewater is a common challenge for facilities in the chemical process industries (CPI). Ion exchange (IX) systems offer one possible solution for demineralization, purification or wastewater-treatment applications. Ion exchange…
Rare noble gases neon, krypton and xenon have unique properties and can be obtained from air, but the economics of isolating them at air-separation units depends on demand and pricing. This article provides information on their production and use The…
In order to recycle spent acids from different applications, a design approach based on different process modules gives operators the flexibility needed to handle different contaminants Spent or waste acids (SA) containing sulfuric or nitric acid are a byproduct of…
This overview of a number of different methods for handling spent acids will help operators select the technology most suited for a given application The most common pickling, leaching and passivation acids are the mineral acids: sulfuric, hydrochloric and nitric.…
With lithium demand higher than ever, processors are increasingly turning toward emerging technologies and new resources for lithium extraction. A new California-based project launched by Controlled Thermal Resources (CTR; Imperial, Calif.; www.cthermal.com) and Lilac Solutions (Oakland, Calif.; www.lilacsolutions.com) aims to…
Lithium is a key raw material for batteries that power electric vehicles, portable electronics and more, but traditional methods for obtaining it are plagued by poor lithium recovery (a large portion of Li is lost in the recovery process), slow…
Industrial crystallization processes are widely used in the chemical process industries (CPI) for their ability to separate and purify products in a single step, often to greater than 99.9% purity. Crystal growth proceeds after nucleation, a molecular aggregation process whereby…