No end in sight to the shale gas bonanza–Energy is now available in the US at bargain-basement prices. Moreover, there is strong demand for ethane as a cracker feedstock because at current prices it is virtually unbeatable. What affect does all of this have on value chains in the chemical industry? Are we looking at a catastrophe or an opportunity? That depends on whether you are a pessimist or an optimist.

Archroma recently announced the introduction of a new optical brightening agent (OBA) specially designed for food packaging and paper, Leucophor AFCN liq. The newly launched OBA has been approved for food contact by the US Food and Drug Administration.

Amec Foster Wheeler has been awarded a contract by Singapore Refining Company (SRC), a joint venture between Singapore Petroleum Company and Chevron.

Right application of blowers and compressors is very essential for the most optimised performance. A good system layout offers more power saving and higher efficiency. It is also important to make sure that proper care is taken during piping design and installation.

How pumps help meeting the most stringent Good Manufacturing Practice Guidelines — When you’re working at the highest standards, your process equipment should be up the task. Special care has to given to process euqipment like pumps, when handling hazardous materials in demanding API production environments. Manufacturers need a technology that is 100 % reliable, safe and efficient. A technology like AODD pumps …

The conveying performance of both a coarse grade and fine grade of fly ash are examined in detail to illustrate the range of conveying capabilities that can be reliably achieved with the assistance of these materials.

For key heat exchangers in large-scale ethylene and LNG plants Engineering Company Technip and Wieland work together. The two companies offer customised solutions for high-performance heat transfer.

Pilot plant testing is considered as an independent protection layer – to reduce technical risk – when implementing new process technologies in refineries and chemical plants.

Many refineries have been in operation for decades. Over this time, operating parameters may have shifted resulting in operation outside the original design of equipment. Reviewing current design criteria against current operation is a recommended action for all refiners. This article will explain the current state-of-the-art criteria for process design and metallurgy selection.

By cleaning multi-purpose systems considerable sums of money may simply be washed away. An example from the cosmetics industry will show how these losses can be in certain cases significantly reduced.