Latest News: Technologies
Recovering REEs from unconventional sources
In October, researchers from Penn State and the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL; Calif.; www.llnl.gov) described — in an article published in ACS Central Science — a new method that improves the extraction and separation of rare earth elements (REEs)…
Waste-based ceramics improve energy-storage economics
Ceramic materials’ high heat resistance makes them a promising media for thermal energy storage, but their high costs have inhibited their widespread use for this application. Now, a new technology offered by Seramic Materials Ltd. (Masdar City, U.A.E.; www.seramic.eco) can…
A new spin on ultrasonic algae control in wastewater-treatment applications
Ultrasound treatment is a non-chemical method to control algae using specific sound frequencies emitted through water to cause internal damage to polluting algae cells. Most previous work in the area of ultrasonic algae control has focused on very loud emitted…
Structured catalyst improves efficiency and hydrogen yields in steam methane reforming
Commissioning has begun on a pilot plant designed to demonstrate the effectiveness of a structured catalyst module for steam-methane reforming (SMR) that solves the main heat-transfer inefficiencies associated with the conventional process. The structured catalyst technology improves the efficiency of…
Chementator Briefs
ODH Catalyst Clariant Catalyts (Munich; www.clariant.com) has teamed up with Linde Engineering (Pullach im Isartal, both Germany; www.linde-engineering.com) to develop new catalysts for the oxidative dehydrogenation of ethane (ODH-E), a low-emissions catalytic technology for the production of ethylene. The new…
Improved process for recycling used motor oil produces higher-grade base oils
Front-end engineering design (FEED) is underway for a facility designed to de-contaminate and upgrade used motor oil from passenger vehicles into a higher-value product mix of base oils than is currently possible with existing motor-oil recycling processes, and in a…
AI-supported polymer-dosage system slashes operating costs
Last month, Andritz AG (Graz, Austria; www.andritz.com) introduced its next-generation of Metris addIQ RheoScan, the world’s first patented, optical-measurement system for automatic polymer dosage in belt presses and gravity belt tables. The new generation uses artificial intelligence (AI) to optimize…
Combustion-free abatement of fugitive methane emissions
Curbing emissions of methane gas is a major concern for many industrial sectors. Typical emissions-abatement methods involve combustion, but a new flameless technology designed by Thermon, Inc. (Austin, Tex.; www.thermon.com) employs a proprietary explosion-proof catalytic pad in place of a…
Feed injector lowers energy consumption of FCC units
A newly launched feed injector for fluid catalytic cracking (FCC) units at petroleum refineries reduces the oil-side pressure drop and lowers the steam required, enabling facilities to achieve the same performance with lower energy consumption, according to developer Lummus Technology…
Blast-furnace technology aims for carbon neutrality
Primetals Technologies, Ltd. (London, U.K.; www.primetals.com) and thyssenkrupp AG (Essen, Germany; www.thyssenkrupp.com) have signed an exclusive, worldwide cooperation agreement that sees both parties commit to bringing the Sequence Impulse Process (SIP) technology to the market. The SIP technology has been…