Biomass – more than just a fuel for power generation: It carries the hope to be usable for an ever–increasing number of chemical intermediates and finished products. Let's take a look at the challenges that the biomass conversion, bioplastics and renewable feedstock poses for plant engineering...

API610 process pumps for one of the biggest and most modern refineries in Russia — Delivering pumps for the petrochemical industry is no easy task for suppliers: Not only, that compliance with international standards is required, the used materials have to be handled according to the highest demands. Especially, when materials like titanium are in needed.

For the industrial production of pure oxides such as iron oxide, alumina or magnesia as well as for mixed oxide products, the thermal chlorides decomposition in hydrochloric solutions has gained world wide importance. Typical, these processes use spray roasting in gas fired reactors to supply raw materials for the ferrite industry, pigments and heat resistant refractories and different types of special ceramics.

Clear View Hydrogen is a complete connected plant service that leverages the power of continuous upload of data to offer plant owners improved asset utilisation, energy savings, and less unplanned downtime. Based on a stream of comprehensive data from the plant, modelling and analytical software proactively alerts plant personnel of operational issues and continually suggests optimisation opportunities.

With this move, Eastman aims to support the business strategy of the company’s Adhesives Resins business. The firm will invest in its manufacturing sites in The Netherlands and the USA.

Transportation and disposal of ash in thermal power station burning high sulphur coal — Coal is the primary fuel for a thermal power plant. Few power plants burn imported coal and pet coke which contains higher quantity of sulfur. While burning this type of fuel, lime will be injected to absorb the sulfur dioxide liberated while burning the coal in order to reduce the quantity of sulfur dioxide emitted in to the atmosphere along with the flue gas. The ash generated contains Calcium sulfate and unburnt CaO.

MIT chemical engineers have devised an alternative approach to synthesizing epoxides, a type of chemical that is used to manufacture diverse products, including plastics, pharmaceuticals, and textiles. Their new approach, which uses electricity to run the reaction, can be done at room temperature and atmospheric pressure while eliminating carbon dioxide as a byproduct.

With this massive investment, Exxon Mobil plans to increase its production of ultra-low sulfur diesel by 45 % at the Fawley refinery. Ultra-low sulfur fuels aim at improving air quality when powering the latest technology.

Technology company The Linde Group has been awarded a long-term contract to supply Vietnamese steel company POSCO SS-Vina (PSSV) with industrial gases. The deal will see Linde construct the country's largest air separation unit at the Phu My industrial park in Ba Ria (Vung Tau province). The Group will be investing a total of around EUR 40 million in the project.

Technip completes acquisition of Hummingbird technology from BP Chemicals Limited, a second generation ethanol to ethylene technology. The technology is lower cost and simpler compared to first generation technologies.