Category Archives for Processes
A Sustainable Future: The Microalgae Oil Revolution
In the quest for sustainable alternatives to traditional agricultural products, a remarkable innovation has emerged from the laboratories of Nanyang Technological University, Singapore (NTU Singapore). Scientists there have developed a groundbreaking method to produce an alternative to palm oil using … Continue reading
Steam Reboilers: Ensuring Optimal Performance through Proper Balance Line Sizing
Steam reboilers are a fundamental component in the distillation process within petroleum refineries and petrochemical plants. They play a pivotal role in transferring heat to the bottom of a distillation column, which is essential for the separation process. The balance … Continue reading
Upcycling Ammonia from Beef Farming: A Sustainable Approach to Fertilizer Production
In the quest for sustainable agriculture, the management of waste products from livestock farming is a critical challenge. One innovative solution to this problem is the upcycling of waste ammonia from beef farming into valuable fertilizer ingredients. This process not … Continue reading
Fouling-Immune Membrane: A Game Changer for Brackish-Water RO Applications
In the quest for sustainable water treatment solutions, the development of fouling-immune membranes represents a significant technological leap. November 2023 marked the initiation of the first commercial test for a novel membrane designed specifically for brackish-water reverse osmosis (BWRO) applications. … Continue reading
A Breath of Fresh Air: U.S.’s First Commercial DAC Facility Launches
In November 2023, Heirloom Carbon Technologies, based in Tracy, California, made a significant leap in the fight against climate change by unveiling the United States’ first commercial Direct Air Capture (DAC) facility. This pioneering facility is designed to capture up to … Continue reading
Converting Natural Gas to Alcohols: The Role of MOFs
Capturing natural gas from petroleum drilling wells has long been an economic and environmental challenge. Traditionally, excess natural gas is flared, resulting in wasted energy and increased carbon emissions. However, recent advancements in chemical engineering have opened the door to … Continue reading
Electrochemical direct-air capture of CO2 also produces freshwater from brine
A new electrochemical technology for direct-air capture (DAC) of atmospheric CO2 can also produce freshwater from brackish water or brine waste from desalination or wastewater treatment facilities. The technology, developed by Capture6, a cleantech company based in Berkeley, California, splits … Continue reading
The Future of Carbon Capture and Storage with Carbonate Fuel Cells
ExxonMobil affiliate Esso Nederland B.V. (Rotterdam, the Netherlands; www.esso.nl) is planning to build a pilot plant at its Rotterdam manufacturing complex to generate performance and operability data for a modular carbon-capture and storage (CCS) technology based on carbonate fuel cells. … Continue reading