Research into the cause of fires involving toluene has always unearthed one certain fact, which is that devastating results are inevitable if there is an electrostatic charge. But why does the chemical ignite so quickly?

Evonik Industries is presenting new Sepuran hollow fibers for efficient, energy-saving separation of gas mixtures.

Thick and dirty process fluids can clog heat exchangers and cause costly downtime in a variety of industry sectors. Alfa Laval has engineered a family of heat exchangers that can help. Designed specifically for handling media with coarse particles, fibers and solids, the Wide Gap100 gasketed plate heat exchanger from Alfa Laval reduces complications due to fouling by using wide distances between plates and highly turbulent flow.

The Kneader Reactor from List offers a pathway to process intensification in both living- and free-radical polymerization. Process intensification is an approach to process and plant design that can minimize costs, increase flexibility and deliver higher yields.

Claris Lifesciences Ltd, India (Claris) has announced the completion of the transfer of its Infusion business for India and Emerging Markets to the Joint Venture (Claris-Otsuka) with Otsuka Pharmaceutical Factory Inc, Japan (OPF) and Mitsui & Co Ltd, Japan (Mitsui).

Jacobs will provide engineering, procurement and construction management (EPCM) services for the construction of a vinyl acetate ethylene (VAE) emulsions production plant at Jurong Island, Singapore.

Sasol has succesfully started–up Phase I of its Fischer-Tropsch Wax Expansion Project (FTWEP) at Sasolburg, South Africa. Pahe 2 is already underway.

New projects from one of Europe's bussiest chemical hubs: BASF has just consigned Air Liquide to supply carbon monoxide to its MDI production plant in Antwerp, Belgium. The Antwerp basin is the largest chemical and petro-chemical basin in Europe, and a major consumer of technical gases...

Jacobs Engineering was selected for a new soda ash project in Jubail/Saudi Arabia. The 800,000 tonnes/year facility will be the first of its kind in the region, company officials stated.

Lotte Versalis Elastomers has opened a new integrated industrial complex for the production of elastomers in Yeosu, South Korea.