Chemical Engineering
New solvents derived from biomass
Last month, Circa Group A/S (Oslo, Norway; www.circa-group.com) applied for patents for two new solvents for CO2 capture processes. The solvents, named Furatech:1 and Furatech:2, were developed over the last 12 months as part of the company’s platform molecule, levoglucosenone…
Chementator briefs
ISOPROPANOL Cepsa Química, S.A. (Palos de la Frontera, Huelva, Spain; www.cepsa.com) is constructing the first production plant to produce isopropyl alcohol (isopropanol), from renewable or circular materials, which the company says will make it the most competitive, innovative and environmentally…
Electrochemical amalgamation effectively removes mercury from concentrated H2SO4
It is well known that mercury is not only toxic, but is also highly mobile. As a result, Hg emissions from both industrial processes (gold mining, combustion of fossil fuels, cement production, waste incineration and more), as well as natural…
Carbon nanotube coating could expand the applications for superlubricity
When a sliding interface experiences a coefficient of friction (CoF) below 0.01, the situation is said to have superlubricity. In the past, superlubricity has been limited to the microscale in controlled environments, and to ceramic surfaces with polar-fluid lubrication. Now,…
McDermott selected for petrochemical expansion project by IOCL
McDermott International Inc. (Houston) has been awarded a project management consultancy (PMC) and engineering, procurement, and construction management (EPCM) contract for the Naphtha Cracker Expansion (Phase II) polypropylene expansion and new ethylene derivative unit project from Indian Oil Corp. Ltd.…
BASF and Huntsman announce separation of joint MDI production in China
BASF SE (Ludwigshafen, Germany) and Huntsman Corp. (The Woodlands, Tex.), together with their Chinese partner companies – Shanghai Hua Yi (Group Company), Sinopec Shanghai Gaoqiao Petrochemical Co., Ltd. and Shanghai Chlor-Alkali Chemical Co., Ltd. – announce the planned separation of…
Air Products to increase production capacity at its LNG equipment-manufacturing facility in Florida
Air Products (Lehigh Valley, Pa.) announced it will be making a significant investment to meet industry demand with increased winding capacity at its liquefied natural gas (LNG) equipment manufacturing facility located in Port Manatee, Florida. Air Products expects that this…
Toray Advanced Composites to expand manufacturing plant in California
Toray Advanced Composites, developer and producer of advanced thermoplastic and thermoset composite materials, announced the planned expansion of its Morgan Hill, Calif. plant operations. The new facility will add 74,000 square feet (6,800 square meters) to the existing campus facilities.…
Fluor awarded more than $1 billion in life sciences contracts
Fluor Corp. (Irving, Tex.) has been awarded a $487 million biotech expansion project in Denmark and is also mobilizing resources in the central U.S. for the first phase of a new life sciences production facility valued at $574 million. Fluor…
BASF completes carve-out of mobile-emissions catalysts and precious-metals services businesses
BASF SE (Ludwigshafen, Germany) has completed the carve-out of its mobile emissions catalysts and precious metal services businesses and named the separate legal entity BASF Environmental Catalyst and Metal Solutions (ECMS). The company’s intention to carve out the entity was…