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MOFs that mimic leaves for enhanced performance
Chemists from the research group of Stefania Grecea at the University of Amsterdam’s (UvA; the Netherlands; www.uva.nl) Research Priority Sustainable Chemistry have devised a way to enhance the practical performance of metal-organic frameworks (MOFs). By using leaves from the black…
Thermal insulation mimics polar-bear hair
Scientists from the University of Science and Technology of China (Hefei; https://en.ustc.edu.cn), led by professor Shu-Hong Yu, have developed a thermal insulator that mimics the structure of individual polar-bear hairs, and have scaled toward a material made of many hairs.…
A solvent-extraction approach for desalination of high-salinity brines
Hypersaline industrial wastewater brines are difficult to treat. Current approaches for removing salt from such brines — such as evaporative distillation and reverse-osmosis (RO) — are problematic because evaporation is highly energy-intensive and RO cannot handle salt levels present in…
Business News – August 2019
Plant Watch Oxea to build new carboxylic acids plant in Germany July 6, 2019 —Oxea (Monheim am Rhein, Germany; www.oxea-chemicals.com) is building a new world-scale production plant for carboxylic acids in Oberhausen, Germany. When brought onstream by the end of…
Increasing the Reliability of Valves Through Design
The latest valves are designed to last in challenging chemical applications, increasing uptime and safety As operational efficiency and safety continue to be top priorities in the chemical process industries (CPI), processors are demanding increased reliability from their equipment, and…
Focus on Pipes, Tubing and Fittings
Plastic caps with corrosion inhibitors protect pipe in transit The CorroLogic CorrPlug caps (photo) protect pipe ends, pipe threads and other tubular objects from corrosion, mechanical damage and intrusion (by foreign objects) during storage and shipping. These pipe caps are…
Facts at your Fingertips: Selecting Heat-Transfer Fluid Supplier
Lean workforces are the norm in current plant environments. In the context of heat exchange systems, the current situation amplifies the need to select a heat-transfer fluid supplier with the expertise and technical resources to handle non-routine circumstances. This one-page…
Technology Profile: Titanium Dioxide Production
This column is based on “Titanium Dioxide Production Process – Cost Analysis,” a report published by Intratec. It can be found at: www.intratec.us/analysis/titanium-dioxide-production-cost. Titanium dioxide (TiO2) is the naturally occurring oxide of titanium, and is found particularly in rutile ores.…
Interlock combines maximum force in a compact package
The new HS1T interlock switch with solenoid (photo) delivers an industry-leading 5,000 N of locking force, with many features included to maximize protection in machine and equipment guarding applications. Such interlock switches are incorporated into machinery and equipment to both…
Modular kit system now has a new electrical connector
The Multiline E multiple and multi-media connector for connecting functional groups to robots and machines now has an additional M12 power plug for providing electrical power. The high-performance M12 connector (photo), which features five pins and L-coding, is designed for…