Latest News
Thin, organo-ceramic coating improves corrosion and fouling resistance of metal components
A chemical vapor deposition (CVD) process that bonds a silicon-oxide film to metal surfaces of any shape is being scaled up by Wicoatec GmbH (Ulm, Germany; www.wicoatec.com). Serial production started in 2017 with pilot-scale equipment, and capacities will be tripled…
Another go for underground coal gasification
Leigh Creek Energy (Adelaide, South Australia; www.lcke.com.au) has received final approval from the South Australian government to start a three-month trial of underground coal gasification (UCG) at the site of the old Leigh Creek Coalfield, about 550 km north of…
Focus on Laboratory Equipment
Take groundwater samples with this device This company recently acquired the Snap Sampler (photo) passive groundwater sampling technology from ProHydro, Inc. The Snap Sampler system (U.S. Patent 7,178,415) employs a unique double-ended bottle design with “snap” sealing caps that captures…
A bi-functional catalyst enables one-step, ‘tunable’ F-T synthesis of liquid fuels
An integrated catalytic process for the direct, Fischer-Tropsch (F-T) conversion of synthesis gas (syngas) into different types of liquid fuels, without subsequent hydro-refining post-treatments of F-T waxes, has been developed by the research group of professor Noritatsu Tsubaki at the…
A one-step solution for remediating two challenging groundwater contaminants
A research team from the New Jersey Institute of Technology’s (NJIT; Newark, N.J.; www.njit.edu) Department of Chemistry and Environmental Science has discovered a new bacterium that may help to alleviate concerns about two of the most pervasive and toxic groundwater…
Shifting to EVs
While it may not be obvious to the average driver, the number of electric vehicles (EVs) on the roads is increasing rapidly, and correspondingly, the number of available charging stations is also growing. Worldwide, about two million electric cars were…
Printing 2-D piezoelectric materials for sensors and energy harvesting
A new, inexpensive method to print large-scale sheets of two-dimensional (2-D) piezoelectric material has been developed by a team from RMIT University (Melbourne, Australia; www.rmit.edu.au) led by professor of electronic engineering Kourosh Kalantar-zadeh (now a professor of chemical engineering at…
Bio-based adsorbent material removes PFAS compounds from water
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) have been widely used for high-performance fire-fighting and in the manufacture of durable goods for their chemical inertness, non-stick properties and fire resistance. They have also raised health concerns because they do not degrade in…
Wireless Monitoring for Pressure Relief Systems
New diagnostic devices can identify when pressure incidents happen, while keeping an eye on the condition of pressure-relief valves and rupture disks Any kind of pressurized system, from the hot-water heater in a residence to a massive chemical reactor, will…
How to Troubleshoot and Maintain Pressure Regulators
Following a five-step process enables better outcomes for fluid system control Most often, operators and technicians will interact with components like ball valves or needle valves when adjusting a system’s operation. However, just as important to the effectiveness of a…