Linde Gases (Murray Hill, N.J.; www.linde-gases.com) has developed a novel cryogenic technology that promotes uniformity in the formation of ice crystals during freeze-drying (lyophilization) processes for proteins, vaccines and other injectable pharmaceutical products. Lyophilization involves freezing a solution of the…
Masaru Nakamichi, leader of the Blanket Technology Group, Naka Fusion Institute, Japan Atomic Energy Agency (JAEA, Ibaraki, Japan; www.naka.jaea.go.jp) has developed a new fabrication technology that enables the mass-production of beryllium intermetallic compounds (beryllides), which are advanced, efficient neutron multipliers…
A test method developed by SABIC (Saudi Basic Industries Corp.; Riyadh, Saudi Arabia; www.sabic.com) scientists drastically reduces the time needed to evaluate slow-crack growth resistance in high-density polyethylene (HDPE) that is used in pressure pipes. The strain-hardening test method allows…
Artificial photosynthesis Scientists at Panasonic Corp.(Osaka, Japan; www.pana sonic.com) have developed an artificial photosynthesis system that utilizes sunlight to convert CO2 to organic materials (mainly formic acid) at what is said to be the highest efficiency yet achieved (0.2%).…
A new hydraulically driven, positive-displacement-pump system can lower the energy requirements for pumping water by 10% in large seawater reverse osmosis (SWRO) desalination plants, where electricity typically represents the largest cost. Recently launched by GE Water & Power (www.ge-energy.com) at…
A move toward bio-based malic acid... Novozymes A/S (Copenhagen, Denmark; www.novozymes.com) has developed a strain of metabolically engineered Aspergillus oryzae fungus that is capable of producing the four-carbon, dicarboxylic acid compound malic acid. The chemical building block malic acid is…
Differential pressure can be a tough problem for butterfly valves, in that it can cause damaging cavitation. As a rule of thumb, for instance, a typical butterfly valve can only handle a maximum of 30% differential pressure (DP), explains René…
A system that continuously produces 10 ton/yr of nanoparticles has been developed by Tadafumi Adschiri, principal investigator at the Advanced Institute for Materials Research (AIMR) and professor at the Institute of Multidisciplinary Research for Advanced Materials and New Industry Hatchery…
The production rate (per amount of catalyst) for generating liquid hydrocarbons from syngas by the Fischer-Tropsch (F-T) process, using a slurry reactor or tubular reactor, is generally limited to about 30% of the maximum rate. The restraining factor is heat…
Petroleum-derived ethylene normally contains traces of acetylene, which interferes with the conversion of ethylene into polyethylene (PE). Because it is difficult to separate it, the acetylene is selectively hydrogenated to ethylene — without subsequent hydrogenation to ethane — using a…