Following this approach to assessing health, safety and environmental risks can steer engineers to consider more inherently safe process options earlier in process synthesis During process synthesis in the chemical process industries (CPI), engineers make decisions that determine the inherent…
Often, operational problems in steam systems are misattributed because the system’s steam quality is not closely monitored. A clear understanding of steam quality can help to better address these issues Steam quality describes the proportion of saturated steam (vapor) in…
When designing a regenerative thermal oxidizer, engineers should not overlook the high-cycle valves that control process air and help maintain efficiency Regenerative thermal oxidizers (RTOs) are regularly utilized in the chemical process industries (CPI) to collect and control air-pollution emissions…
Filtration is arguably the most common unit operation in the chemical process industries (CPI). Filtration processes can be divided into three broad categories: cake filtration, where the incoming slurry contains enough solid material to form a cake on the filter…
Citric acid is a naturally occurring tricarboxylic acid commonly found in plants and animals (Figure 1). In its pure form, it is a colorless compound readily soluble in water. Citric acid is mainly used to add taste to food and…
The versatile nature of gear-pump technology allows operators to handle multiple fluids in multiple applications Pump technology can be traced as far back as the B.C. era, when ancient Egyptians used a shadoof to move water from one source (in…
Paying attention to the seal design used in centrifugal pumps can help in water management. This article uses the beverage industry to illustrate this point Economic survival in a climate where industry competition and environmental concerns converge is not easy.…
Selecting personal protective equipment (PPE), including safety eyewear, for the chemical process industries (CPI) depends on the hazards present in the facility where it is used. The following describes considerations for selecting eye and face protection based on the potential…
Vinyl acetate (also known as vinyl acetate monomer; VAM) is important in the manufacture of many polymers and resins. The greatest demand for vinyl acetate is associated with the production of polymers and copolymers, mainly poly(vinyl acetates) used in papermaking,…
Contracting a pilot plant is a viable approach for any organization. However, it can be fraught with potential issues, which need to be understood and addressed in advance Reduced in-house resources have limited the options many organizations have for designing…