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Custom powder containers streamline material transfer
These new powder containers (photo) feature a custom design that streamlines material transfer in a personal-care-product manufacturing process. Developed for a major private-label manufacturer, the powder containers set FDA-compliant, polyethylene bulk containers within durable, steel frames in a configuration that…
Enzyme-treated rock particles are accelerating carbon sequestration
In a first-of-its-kind trial project, a CO2-removal method known as enhanced rock weathering (ERW) is being combined with biotechnology to accelerate atmospheric CO2 sequestration. FabricNano (London, U.K.; www.fabricnano.com) and Veolia (Paris, France; www.veolia.com) have embarked on a partnership wherein enzymes…
Using ambient air to cool a product tank
LC-Series heat exchangers are designed for cooling liquids or high-pressure air with ambient air. Common applications include cooling water used in fracking processes, cooling glycol or water as a cleaner alternative to smaller cooling towers, cooling compressed air and condensing…
The next generation of pilot reactors launched at Achema
The Sakura and Sakura Mini next-generation premium pilot reactors (photo) incorporates the latest reactor-vessel technology to provide enhanced performance and efficiency for chemical process scale-up. Sakura includes vessels of up to 100 L, with the option to upgrade to this…
CO2-to-methanol conversion improved with catalyst-support ion swap
Researchers at Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL; Oak Ridge, Tenn.; www.ornl.gov) and a team of interdisciplinary scientists tripled the yield of methanol in the catalytic hydrogenation reaction of carbon dioxide by introducing hydrides into the catalyst support material. The researchers…
How to Conduct a Thermal Audit of an Industrial Facility
The efficiency of steam-generating and distribution systems can be improved incrementally, but more substantial gains can be found using pinch analysis for better heat recovery When it comes to improving the energy efficiency of a thermal system, most industrial organizations…
Portable compressors that are easy to transport
Powerful, lightweight, quiet, versatile and easy to transport: these are the key features of the smallest models in the e-power portable compressor range, the Mobilair M10E and M13E (photo). Together with the Purpac F16 support frame, which includes a compressed…
Modular Construction: Choosing the Optimal Module Type
Plant process modules are not a one-size-fits-all solution. These considerations can help determine the best size for your project With the growing recognition of the advantages of modular construction over traditional field construction [1, 2], it’s no surprise that an…
A fungus converts cellulose directly into a platform chemical
Conventional bioprocesses use three separate steps to convert cellulose into products, such as bioplastics and biofuels. The consolidated bioprocess (CBP) combines all steps — cellulase production, cellulose hydrolysis and product fermentation — in a single reactor. Using the natural abilities…
People drive digital success
In 1851, the year that the first America’s Cup sailboat race was contested, the top speed for a wind-powered vessel was 10 knots. Over the next 100 years, top sailboat speeds barely budged, but by the mid-1970s, top sailing speed…