Latest News: Technologies
Making carboxylic acids from alkynes and CO2
The research groups of professor Yasuyuki Tsuji and assistant professor Tetsuaki Fujihara at Kyoto University (Japan; www.ehcc.kyoto-u.ac.jp) have developed a copper-catalyzed reaction for synthesizing carboxylic acids, such as acrylic acid, using carbon dioxide as a raw material. The reaction involves…
Making artificial water channels
A group of scientists from Fudan University (Shanghai, China; www.fudan.ac.cn) China, has reported what it claims to be the first example of artificial single-molecular water channels that can transport water across lipid membranes. Transmembrane water transport — through water channel…
A treatment process for coal-bed-methane-extraction water
In the development process for coal-bed methane, water is produced from wells. It is high-salinity water, with total dissolved solids (TDS) generally at least 1,000 mg/L. The main concern with coal-bed methane co-produced water is the amount of Na+ and…
Testing of a new oil-sands-recovery process
A consortium of companies — Laricina Energy Ltd., Nexen Inc., Suncor Energy Inc. and Harris Corp. — has completed its initial-phase testing of the Enhanced Solvent Extraction Incorporating Electromagnetic Heating (ESEIEH) project at Suncors Steepbank mine facility north of Fort…
This coated silica additive improves adhesive performance
A recently launched, polymer-coated, fumed silica additive improves the performance of structural adhesives — those designed to bear loads. The new additive is capable of reducing the adhesive’s application viscosity, while simultaneously improving its ability to maintain a bead profile…
A non-crop-based sugar feedstock for bio-based chemicals and biofuels
Proterro Inc. (Princeton, N.J.; www. proterro.com) has demonstrated technology for directly producing sucrose as a feedstock for bio-based chemicals and biofuels that avoids the need for cellulosic biomass and energy crops. Using a genetically engineered strain of photosynthetic cyanobacteria and…
Detecting VOCs with a quantum-tunneling composite
A sensor that detects volatile organic compounds (VOCs) at levels of 10–100 parts per million (ppm) is being developed by Peratech Ltd. (Richmond, U.K.; www.peratech.com), with collaboration from the University of Durham (U.K.; www.dur.ac.uk). The so-called Electronic Nose is based…
The first synthesis and isolation of a ‘heavy ketone’
For the first time, researchers from Riken (Saitama, Japan; www.riken.go.jp) have synthesized stable crystals (photo) of a so-called heavy ketone — a compound in which the carbon of the C=O bond is replaced by Si, Ge, Sn or Pb. These…
Chlorine dioxide single-stage NOx scrubbing technology lowers costs
A new process for removing oxides of nitrogen (NOx) from industrial foul-air and cool combustion exhaust uses ClO2 in a unique way to remove over 99% of both NO and NO2 with a single scrubbing stage. The reaction vessel is…
Distillation: Avoid Problems During Tower Startup
A variety of performance problems can arise in distillation towers during startup. Many are caused by equipment, hardware or process conditions. Hardware issues may be related to instrumentation, tower internals or ancillaries. Instrumentation malfunctions are also common during startup and…