Solid-liquid separation is a key unit operation that processors look to for a wide-range of applications ranging from: the lowly removal of debris from cooling-fluid lines and products; through the recovery of product from solvents; to massive-scale dewatering…
A chemical-treatment process, called Kemicond, that reduces the volume and odor of sludge has been commercialized by its developer Kemitra Kemi AB Kemwater (Helsingborg, Sweden; edlinks.chemengonline.com/6515-532). The first commercial application - a system for Käppala Association (Stockholm, Sweden) that treats…
Eltron Research, Inc. (Boulder, Co.; edlinks.chemengonline.com/6515-553), in partnership with the U.S. Dept. of Energy's (DOE; Washington, D.C.) National Energy Technology Laboratory (Pittsburgh, Pa.; edlinks.chemengonline.com/6515-554), has engineered membrane materials for producing pure hydrogen from coal-derived synthesis gas. In bench-scale tests, the…
PuriTech (Dessel, Belgium; edlinks.chemengonline.com/6514-536) has developed a continuous ion-exchange system, called Ionex, which uses up to 75% less water and requires about half the volume of ion-exchange resin, compared with traditional fixed-bed systems, says PuriTech projects director Filip Rochette. Ionex…
Sodium chloride aerosols are widely used as part of bronchial provocation tests to identify people with asthma, and those who wish to enter military or police service. To maximize their effectiveness, salt aerosol crystals should be as small as possible…
Toyo Engineering Corp. (TEC; Tokyo; edlinks.chemengonline.com/5829-536) has developed a new, cryogenic process for extracting natural-gas liquids (NGLs; ethane, propane, butane and other hydrocarbons) from liquefied natural gas (LNG). The Coreflux-LNG process boasts an ethane recovery efficiency of around 98%, compared…
Cartridge trays, defined below, can be the perfect hardware solution for distillation columns that are less than 3 feet (0.9m) in diameter and have a unique need for trays. Packing is usually the preferred choice for small-diameter columns, but there…
The presence of TCA (2,4,6-trichloroanisole) in cork can lead to undesirable tastes or smells in wine; this so-called cork taint affects about 3–6% of bottled wine. Although techniques (such as boiling in water or striping with superheated steam) have been…
Another process that removes up to 90% of the TCA from cork (see item above) was recently launched by Cork Supply USA (Benica, Calif.; edlinks.chemengonline.com/5828-534). The Cork Supply Group in Portugal has been testing the process for over three years…
Researchers at the Dept. of Chemical Engineering, University of Texas at Austin (edlinks.chemengonline.com/5827-547) have developed a rubbery membrane that can be used purify hydrogen. The membrane, based on ethylene oxide polymers, is 40 times more permeable to CO2 than H2,…