Chemical Engineering
Rotary Drum Maintenance
Follow these nine recommendations to establish a strong program for preventive maintenance of rotary drums in drying, cooling and other treatments of bulk solids Maximizing efficiency is increasingly a critical priority for plant managers, leading many to move away from…
Recycling plastics
Separating recyclables from our trash has become commonplace for many of us. What can be recycled and how it is collected, however, varies quite a bit by location. My town, for example, accepts plastics #1 (polyethylene terephthalate; PET), #2 (high-density…
Reducing Emissions for Sustainable Manufacturing
Facilities can reduce emissions without major capital projects. Here are some practical ideas showing where to start People working in the air-pollution control industry used to boast that you can remove everything from fluegas except carbon dioxide, and it remains…
Business News: September 2023
Plant Watch Mitsui Chemicals to increase production capacity for polyurethane dispersions August 11, 2023 — Mitsui Chemicals, Inc. (Tokyo, Japan; www.mitsuichemicals.com) will increase its production capacity for polyurethane dispersions (PUDs) at the company’s Shimizu site. This expansion will approximately double…
Commissioning completed for a carbon-capture pilot plant that uses a novel solvent
Commissioning is wrapping up this month for a pilot facility designed to validate the capabilities of a new carbon-capture solvent. The pilot plant was constructed by Koch Modular Process Systems (KMPS; Paramus, N.J.; www.kochmodular.com) as part of Project Enterprise, a…
This indirectly heated rotary kiln is powered by electricity
Metso Corp. (Helsinki, Finland; www.metso.com) has optimized its existing rotary kiln technology and launched RotarEkiln, an electrically powered, indirectly heated rotary kiln. The electric heating system of the RotarEkiln provides a sustainable alternative to conventional fuel-powered indirect rotary kilns. The…
Using microwaves to make ammonia
Ammonia is becoming more crucial for the energy transition as renewable-power producers look to its potential as a means for energy storage. Typically made using the energy-intensive Haber Bosch (HB) process, solutions for decarbonizing NH3 typically involve the adoption of…
E3 Lithium begins operations at direct lithium extraction field pilot plant in Alberta
E3 Lithium Ltd. (Calgary, Alta., Canada) announced that commissioning of its Direct Lithium Extraction (DLE) field pilot plant is complete and operations have begun. The commissioning process included connecting all major pieces of equipment to the piping and wiring systems…
Lenzing completes upgrade project at its specialty-viscose manufacturing plant in Indonesia
The Lenzing Group (Lenzing, Austria) has made significant technical improvements to its Purwakarta site in Indonesia (PT. South Pacific Viscose). Lenzing has invested more than EUR 100 million since 2021 to convert existing production capacity to specialty viscose. With the…
Lanxess and FRX Innovations announce strategic partnership related to flame-retardant materials
Lanxess AG (Cologne, Germany) and FRX Innovations (Vancouver, B.C., Canada), a leading global developer and manufacturer of environmentally sustainable polymeric flame-retardant additives, have announced the signing of a memorandum of understanding covering: the evaluation of a contract manufacturing, by LANXESS,…