Chemicals & Materials

A semiconductor media that could be printed under ambient conditions by a roll-to-roll process on plastic substrates to fabricate photovoltaic devices (PVs) would greatly reduce the cost of solar cell manufacturing. One approach is to create “paints” or “inks” of nanocrystals that can be deposited...

Molecular dynamics and Monte Carlo simulations were used to study the ionic liquid 1-n-Hexyl-3-methylimidazolium bis(Trifluoromethylsulfonyl)amide ([hmim][Tf2N]) confined into the (20,20) and (9,9) carbon nanotubes and gases (CO2, H2) absorption into the composite material consisting of the ionic...

*Corresponding author, Email: chencts@nus.edu.sg , Fax: (65)-6779 1936 ABSTRACT Freshwater shortage has caused serious world-wide problems and many technologies have been developed for water recycle and seawater desalination. Forward osmosis (FO) as a promising technology has attracted much...

A deethanizer reboiler condensate drum experienced hydraulic hammering when the reboiler operated at lower steam loads and when the column loads were reduced quickly. The condensate drum level indicator was unreliable and insensitive to the variations in level control valve opening. Condensate drum...

Analysis of chemical supply chains is an inherently complex task, given the dependence of these supply chains on multiple infrastructure systems (e.g., the petroleum sector, transportation, etc.). This effort requires data and information at various levels of resolution, ranging from network-level...

Braskem is a Brazilian petrochemicals manufacturer, producing monomers, resins and chemicals specialties. Its ethylene capacity is 2,500 Kty, distributed in four Olefins plants, all based on naphtha steam cracking. This paper reports a high rate of fouling in the Primary Fractionator, resulting in...

Gas cracking plants are especially sensitive to fouling in the quench water section. One main fouling mechanism in the quench tower and in the related equipment is the accumulation of material with a high pour point. Fouling can be avoided or at least significantly reduced if the pour point of the...

In mid-2009 at the BASF FINA Petrochemical L.P. Steam Cracker in Port Arthur, Texas, a venturi-type flow meter in super-high-pressure steam service ruptured catastrophically, resulting in a major release of pressure and trip of the plant. Initially a steam leak was observed at the flow meter, and...

Ethylene producers have faced the challenge of feedstock contaminants for decades. However, with current industry transitions and surplus capacity, the low cost producer will have a real advantage in terms of survivability. The ability to leverage opportunities to improve the cost position on...