Latest News
A more mechanical method for methanol manufacture
The demand for “green” methanol as a low-carbon fuel is rising, making it a valuable commodity, as well as a promising avenue for waste-carbon utilization, especially since it can be readily produced from “stranded” carbon sources, such as flare gas.…
Upgrading organic wastewater into fuel feedstocks
Although wastewater streams with high organic content — such as those from breweries and dairy facilities — can be difficult to treat and expensive to dispose of, there is potential to valorize their carbon content with the right process. Based…
A more economical process for bio-succinic acid piloted
Bio-based succinic acid has been explored as a renewable building-block for a host of chemicals and polymers, but its production process remains costly due largely to the complicated purification process that generates a large waste stream. Now, researchers at the…
Electrochemistry and much more
A couple of years ago on Chemical Engineering’s 120th anniversary, I looked back at the history of this publication and at that time, I wrote: “In September of 1902, the first issue of Electrochemical Industry was published to serve those…
New injector technology fundamentally improves combustion flexibility
Conventional combustors that employ air-blast and pressure-swirl injection technologies are very sensitive to fuel properties, especially viscosity, limiting their ability to utilize certain classes of fuels and blends, including bio-based fuels. The new swirl-burst (SB) fuel-injector technology developed at Baylor…
Cost Engineering with Previously Owned Process Equipment
This article made available to you by: Previously used process equipment can offer significant cost advantages in capital construction projects, but there are important questions to consider before pursuing pre-owned equipment Many misconceptions persist in the marketplace about secondhand equipment.…
Conducting Hazard Reviews: A Practical Guide to Implementing Impactful Process Hazard Analyses
The insights reported here will help guide and encourage engineers in facilitating high-quality and effective hazard analyses in their facilities Undertaking and completing a well-planned hazard review might just be the best thing you ever do on a single day…
Methods for Conceptual Capital-Cost Estimation
Conceptual capital-cost estimates are important for assessing the economic viability of proposed projects, but their usefulness depends on understanding how to appropriately apply the estimates Capital cost estimates are a crucial step in order to make prudent decisions regarding any…
Successful pilot study of wastewater reuse technology at commercial site
A pilot project evaluating the Electro-Ceramic Desalination (ECD) technology developed by Membrion Inc. (Seattle, Wash.; www.membrion.com) successfully recovered clean water from the reject water of a reverse osmosis (RO) desalination process at a commercial manufacturing site. Membrion’s technology uses ceramic…
Air Liquide will build hydrogen production unit at TotalEnergies biorefinery site
Air Liquide (Paris, France; www.airliquide.com) recently announced a renewable hydrogen production project at TotalEnergies (Courbevoie, France; www.totalenergies.com) La Mède (Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region in France) site. In the context of a long-term contract, Air Liquide will cover the hydrogen needs of…