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Separation Processes

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Liquid-Gas Coalescers: The Effects of Retrograde Condensation

Modeling and pilot testing can minimize its impact during natural-gas processing Retrograde condensation (RC) occurs in multi-component natural-gas streams at relatively high pressures (for instance, pressures above 40 barg/580 psig). The presence of condensed liquids in such systems can have…

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Urban Mining Offers Good Prospecting

As the volume of discarded electronic gadgets grows, efforts are underway to recover the precious resources trapped inside It should come as no surprise that the fastest growing part of the world’s domestic waste stream is e-waste — discarded products…

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These highly selective membranes mimic biological ion channels

New membranes developed at Tufts University (Medford, Mass.; www.tufts.edu) can effectively separate similar chemicals based on not only size but on electrostatic charge. “Currently, there are no commercial membranes that are designed to separate organic molecules of similar size but…

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Startup for a demonstration plant to process three metals

Australian Mines (Perth; https//:australianmines.com.au) has started operating a demonstration three metals (cobalt-nickel-scandium) processing plant that will process ore from the company’s Sconi and Flemington projects into commercial-grade samples. The company’s flagship Sconi project, located in the mining center of Greenvale…

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Bubble-Cap Tray Vapor Turndown

The concept of tray stability can apply to bubble caps and be used as an alternative method to determine the minimum efficient capacity of these devices. A new stability correlation for bubble-cap trays is proposed and checked against FRI data…

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Experimental Validation of Distillation Column Simulations

A practical look at the need for validation, as well as conceptual considerations and a case study This article addresses the need for experimental validation of computer-generated distillation column simulations , and discusses the main concepts involved with experimental validation.…

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Operating Strategies for Gas Dehydration Units

The presence of certain contaminants can wreak havoc on gas dehydration systems and other similar separation processes, but there are design measures that can help to minimize the issues caused by these substances The presence of the aromatic compounds benzene,…

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A fluorine-free membrane for fuel cells

Polymer-electrolyte fuel cells (PEFCs) are promising devices for clean power generation in automotive, stationary and portable applications. Up to now, the proton exchange membranes (PEMs) used in PEFCs have been based on perfluorosulfonic acid (PFSA) ionomers (for example, Nafion). However,…

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Facts at your Fingertips: Filter Aids

Cake filtration is a common operation across many sectors of the chemical process industries (CPI). In cake filtration, the solid being filtered acts as a screen so that particles of the suspension are retained by the medium, resulting in the…

Extending Membranes’ Reach Across the CPI

Advances in next-generation materials and assembly techniques have enhanced membranes’ effectiveness in numerous applications Membranes are one of the primary technologies used for separations. While they may be best known for their use in water-treatment operations, advances in membrane technologies…