Friday, August 14, 2009

Mechanical engineering




Mechanical Engineering is an engineering discipline that involves the application of principles of physics and chemistry for analysis, design, manufacturing, and maintenance of various systems. Mechanical engineering is one of the oldest and broadest engineering disciplines.

It requires a solid understanding of core concepts including mechanics, kinematics, thermodynamics, fluid mechanics, and energy. Mechanical engineers use the core principles as well as other knowledge in the field to design and analyze manufacturing plants, industrial equipment and machinery, heating and cooling systems, motor vehicles, aircraft, watercraft, robotics, medical devices and more.

Chemical plant




A chemical plant is an industrial process plant that manufactures (or otherwise processes) chemicals, usually on a large scale. The general objective of a chemical plant is to create new material wealth via the chemical or biological transformation and or separation of materials.[1] Chemical plants use special equipment, units, and technology in the processes. Other kinds of plants, such as polymer, pharmaceutical, food, and some beverage production facilities, power plants, oil refineries or other refineries, natural gas processing and biochemical plants, water and wastewater treatment, and pollution control equipment use many technologies which have similarities to chemical plant technology such as fluid systems. Some would consider an oil refinery or a pharmaceutical or polymer manufacturer to be effectively a chemical plant.

Petrochemical plants (plants using petroleum as a raw material) are usually located adjacent to an oil refinery to minimize transportation costs for the feedstocks produced by the refinery. Specialty chemical plants are usually much smaller and not as sensitive to location.

Environmental engineering




Environmental engineering[1][2] is the application of science and engineering principles to improve the environment (air, water, and/or land resources), to provide healthy water, air, and land for human habitation and for other organisms, and to remediate polluted sites.

Environmental engineering involves water and air pollution control, recycling, waste disposal, and public health issues as well as a knowledge of environmental engineering law. It also includes studies on the environmental impact of proposed construction projects.

Environmental engineers conduct hazardous-waste management studies to evaluate the significance of such hazards, advise on treatment and containment, and develop regulations to prevent mishaps. Environmental engineers also design municipal water supply and industrial wastewater treatment systems[3][4] as well as address local and worldwide environmental issues such as the effects of acid rain, ozone depletion, water pollution and air pollution from automobile exhausts and industrial sources.[5][6]

At many universities, Environmental Engineering programs follow either the Department of Civil Engineering or The Department of Chemical Engineering at Engineering faculties. Environmental "civil" engineers focus on hydrology, water resources management and water treatment plant design. Environmental "chemical" engineers, on the other hand, focus on environmental chemistry, advanced air and water treatment technologies and separation processes.

Additionally, engineers are more frequently obtaining specialized training in law (J.D.) and are utilizing their technical expertise in the practices of Environmental engineering law.[citation needed]

Methodology




Engineers apply the sciences of physics and mathematics to find suitable solutions to problems or to make improvements to the status quo. More than ever, Engineers are now required to have knowledge of relevant sciences for their design projects, as a result, they keep on learning new material throughout their career.

If multiple options exist, engineers weigh different design choices on their merits and choose the solution that best matches the requirements. The crucial and unique task of the engineer is to identify, understand, and interpret the constraints on a design in order to produce a successful result. It is usually not enough to build a technically successful product; it must also meet further requirements.

Constraints may include available resources, physical, imaginative or technical limitations, flexibility for future modifications and additions, and other factors, such as requirements for cost, safety, marketability, productibility, and serviceability. By understanding the constraints, engineers derive specifications for the limits within which a viable object or system may be produced and operated.

History


The concept of engineering has existed since ancient times as humans devised fundamental inventions such as the pulley, lever, and wheel. Each of these inventions is consistent with the modern definition of engineering, exploiting basic mechanical principles to develop useful tools and objects.

The term engineering itself has a much more recent etymology, deriving from the word engineer, which itself dates back to 1325, when an engine’er (literally, one who operates an engine) originally referred to “a constructor of military engines.”[5] In this context, now obsolete, an “engine” referred to a military machine, i. e., a mechanical contraption used in war (for example, a catapult). The word “engine” itself is of even older origin, ultimately deriving from the Latin ingenium (c. 1250), meaning “innate quality, especially mental power, hence a clever invention.”[6]

Later, as the design of civilian structures such as bridges and buildings matured as a technical discipline, the term civil engineering[4] entered the lexicon as a way to distinguish between those specializing in the construction of such non-military projects and those involved in the older discipline of military engineering (the original meaning of the word “engineering,” now largely obsolete, with notable exceptions that have survived to the present day such as military engineering corps, e.g., the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

Engineering




Engineering is the science, discipline, art and profession of acquiring and applying technical, scientific and mathematical knowledge to design and implement materials, structures, machines, devices, systems, and processes that safely realize a desired objective or inventions.

The American Engineers' Council for Professional Development (ECPD, the predecessor of ABET[1]) has defined engineering as

“[T]he creative application of scientific principles to design or develop structures, machines, apparatus, or manufacturing processes, or works utilizing them singly or in combination; or to construct or operate the same with full cognizance of their design; or to forecast their behavior under specific operating conditions; all as respects an intended function, economics of operation and safety to life and property.”[2][3][4]

One who practices engineering is called an engineer, and those licensed to do so may have more formal designations such as Professional Engineer, Chartered Engineer, Incorporated Engineer, or European Engineer. The broad discipline of engineering encompasses a range of more specialized subdisciplines, each with a more specific emphasis on certain fields of application and particular areas of technology.

Overview





Historically, the chemical engineer has been primarily concerned with process engineering. The modern discipline of chemical engineering, however, encompasses much more than just process engineering. Chemical engineers are now engaged in the development and production of a diverse range of products, as well as in commodity and specialty chemicals. These products include high performance materials needed for aerospace, automotive, biomedical, electronic, environmental and military applications. Examples include ultra-strong fibers, fabrics, adhesives and composites for vehicles, bio-compatible materials for implants and prosthetics, gels for medical applications, pharmaceuticals, and films with special dielectric, optical or spectroscopic properties for opto-electronic devices. Additionally, chemical engineering is often intertwined with biology and biomedical engineering. Many chemical engineers work on biological projects such as understanding biopolymers (proteins) and mapping the human genome.

Chemical engineering



Chemical engineering is the branch of engineering that deals with the application of physical science (e.g. chemistry and physics), and life sciences (e.g. biology, microbiology and biochemistry) with mathematics, to the process of converting raw materials or chemicals into more useful or valuable forms. In addition to producing useful materials, modern chemical engineering is also concerned with pioneering valuable new materials and techniques - such as nanotechnology, fuel cells and biomedical engineering.[1] A person employed in this field is called a chemical engineer.

Chemical engineering largely involves the design, improvement and maintenance of processes involving chemical or biological transformations for large-scale manufacture. Chemical engineers ensure the processes are operated safely, sustainably and economically. Chemical engineers in this branch are usually employed under the title of process engineer. A related term with a wider definition is chemical technology.

Wednesday, August 12, 2009

CUSTOM CHEMICAL SYNTHESIS




We offer a full range of custom synthesis and manufacturing services to the life science and chemical industries. Our technical capabilities include: complex multi-step organic synthesis, emulsion or solution polymerization, inorganic custom synthesis (including organometallics), electronic chemicals, and stereochemically pure compounds. For our pharmaceutical clients, we are also frequently able to provide drug product formulation, compounding, and packaging as part of our turnkey service offerings.

Furthermore, we are experienced in all compliance-related requirements, including full pharmaceutical cGMP sites (dedicated facilities), HPAPI and cytotoxic manufacturing, food grade, Kosher certification, and ISO registration. With over 21 years experience working with both life sciences and specialty chemicals companies, our team is prepared to successfully complete any challenging custom synthesis opportunity - from mg to metric ton scales. Submit a Custom Chemical Synthesis Inquiry

Our focus is on value-added custom synthesis and efficient processing solutions on any scale, while always providing expert project management along the way. With this foundation, we have built a well-deserved reputation as an ideal partner for pharmaceutical and chemical companies. We have extensive experience in improving the efficiency of drug discovery, development, clinical trial, testing, and commercialization efforts.

We also have expertise in delivering solutions requiring unit operations such as distillation, drying, and particle size processing. For a complete list, please refer to our Toll Manufacturing Services page.

Please check out a few of our Case Studies to find outstanding examples of project success at varying scales or production.

Compliance Offerings:
HPAPI and Cytotoxic manufacturing
cGMP (pharmaceutical)
cGMP (food)
DEA license
DMF preparation
Food Grade
Kosher
ISO 900x

Scales:
Small Scale Custom Synthesis (mg to kg)
Pilot Scale Preparation (kg)
Full Scale Manufacture (kg to millions of pounds)

Reaction Capabilities:
Alkylation
Amidation
Bromination
Chiral Resolution/Custom Synthesis
Condensation
Cyanoethlyation
Dehydrohalogenation
Diazotization
Enzymatic Custom Synthesis
Esterification
Ethoxylation
Fluorination
Hydrogenation
Nitration
Oxidation
Organometallic Custom Synthesis
Phosgenation
Phosphation
Polymerization
Quaternization
Reductive Amination
Sulfonation

RAW MATERIAL SOURCING - CHEMICALS




RCI maintains a comprehensive pharmaceutical/chemical raw material and intermediates product list comprised of research, pilot and full scale quantities. We will conduct custom searches for chemical raw material products not on our list. Submit a Chemical Raw material Sourcing Inquiry.

RCI offers these benefits:

  • One-stop shopping - satisfy all your sourcing needs with just one contact!
  • Access to RCI's established working relationships with a large network of domestic and international chemical raw material suppliers
  • Warehousing and logistics services for Just-in-time delivery
  • Custom sourcing for difficult to find chemical products and those in short supply

If there are no commercial sources, our Custom Synthesis group will develop a new source.

Please check our "Chemical Raw Material Products Directory"

SPECIALTY CHEMICALS



Custom manufacturing for the specialty chemicals market poses its own unique set of challenges. RCI understands this market's critical requirements: low unit costs, consistent large scale production and expertise in specific types of organic or polymer chemistry. We bring more than 60 years of Fortune 500 and small specialty chemicals company experience to our manufacturing projects. Our understanding of both large and small company cultures allows us to make effective client - manufacturer partnerships. Please check out our section on Custom Chemical Services to read more about our specific capabilities. Submit a Specialty Chemicals Inquiry

Raw material cost is a major factor in the competitiveness of custom manufactured specialty chemicals. RCI combines global raw material sourcing capabilities with diverse custom manufacturing options to deliver successful, cost effective solutions. For examples related to specialty chemicals and/or unit operation custom processing, please refer to our Case Studies section.

CHEMICAL PRODUCTS



Chemical Products Directory (PDF Format)
Chemical Products Directory (HTML Format)

Richman Chemical is active with many different types of fine chemicals. If you would like to submit a Product Inquiry, click here!

Interested in our fine chemical Case Studies? Click here!

NUTRITIONAL PRODUCTS




Nutritional Products Directory (PDF Format)
Nutritional Products Directory (HTML Format)

If you would like to submit an inquiry for a nutritional product, click here!

Interested in our nutritional product Case Studies? Click her

Sunday, August 9, 2009

OEST MASCHINENBAU



The company produces glue mixing-, glue pouring- and dosing and application units for all kinds of adhesives. The glue mixing units ensures the automatic processing of liquid and powder components. The systems for the supply of extruder-heads for the finger joint-, edge- and surface-application work with self-developed dosing pumps. The glue pouring units are available with an application width up to 3000 mm. Also systems for the separate application of resin and hardener are in the product range. For the processing of PUR adhesives are surface application and finger joint units available.

Product range

Nonwovens / Technical Textiles



Nonwovens For Medical Applications
Innovations in the growing nonwoven medical textiles sector include new products aimed at infection prevention.
Janet Bealer Rodie, Managing Editor
N onwoven textiles play a significant role in the medical sector. The product range includes surgical gowns, masks and other wearable products; surgical drapes, pads; dressings; filtration materials; and implantable textiles such as tissue scaffolds for rebuilding internal organs, among other products.

By far, most nonwoven products used outside the body are disposable, single-use articles that have the advantage of not requiring sterilization or cleaning for reuse. However, there are some that can be reused to provide the required function over a limited period of time.

In North America, disposable nonwoven medical apparel products alone represent a market totaling nearly $1.46 billion, according to the Association of the Nonwoven Fabrics Industry (INDA), Cary, N.C.; and the market is growing by approximately 1 to 2 percent annually. Globally, the medical nonwoven disposables market is forecast to grow to $12 billion annually by 2010, according to market research firm Global Industry Analysts Inc., San Jose, Calif.

Products used inside the body may provide a basis for cells to grow and regenerate tissue — for example, a ligament that has been destroyed or damaged that can be regenerated using a bioabsorbable material that eventually becomes indistinguishable from the ligament itself.

Manufacturing processes used to make these medical nonwovens include needlepunch; hydroentangling; spunbond, meltblown and a combination of the two; and thermal bonding. Bicomponent splittable or fibrillated fibers, nanotechnology and fiber modification also play important roles in some recent developments, a number of them involving filtration and barrier technologies.

“Nanofibers are becoming very popular for medical textiles used to filter viruses and bacteria,” said Jeff Haggard, vice president of technology at West Melbourne, Fla.-based Hills Inc., a developer of man-made fiber technology and machinery. Hills has been a pioneer in the development of bicomponent fibers as well as meltblown and spunbond technologies and their applications, and it offers meltblown technology that can produce fibers in the range between 25 and 400 nanometers (nm), with an average size of 250 nm.

A Collaborative Development
Collaborations between research institutes and private industry have yielded numerous important developments in the nonwoven medical textile field. As one example, Pathogen Removal and Diagnostic Technologies Inc. (PRDT), a joint venture between ProMetic BioSciences Ltd., England, and the American Red Cross, Washington, has developed a filter to remove prion protein from red blood cell concentrate. Prions are responsible for degenerative brain diseases such as mad cow disease and other such diseases, including its human cousin and the target of this filter, variant Creutzfeld-Jakob disease. The filter, marketed in the United Kingdom by France-based MacoPharma S.A. under the brand name P-CAPT™, comprises a target-specific affinity resin sandwiched between nonwoven membranes using a calendering process. The membrane development was carried out through a collaboration with the Nonwovens Cooperative Research Center (NCRC) at North Carolina State University (NCSU). The effort brought together prion experts at the University of Maryland, and chemical engineers involved in bioseparations and NCRC nonwovens staff and engineers at NCSU.

The P-CAPT™ filter for removing prion protein from
red blood cell concentrate comprises a target-specific
affinity resin sandwiched between nonwoven membranes.
Photo and schematic courtesy of MacoPharma S.A.

Disease Prevention: Multiple-Use Protection
Current warnings of a swine flu (H1N1) pandemic must be providing a boon to nonwoven face mask and respirator sales, as people around the world have been shown wearing the masks in an effort to avoid inhaling the virus or spreading possible infection to others. The US Department of Health and Human Services has established a website, www.flu.gov, to provide information about H1N1, avian flu (H5N1) and pandemic flu in general. The website includes a page with information and guidance provided by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration about the use of masks and respirators to protect against infection. Numerous other websites offered by health organizations and governments around the world also provide relevant information.

Mask manufacturers reportedly are escalating their operations to meet the increased demand. “ We’ve gotten some big orders in several countries and are ramping up production,” said John Dolan, CEO, Carey International Ltd., a Westerly, R.I.-based worldwide distributor of a new, multiple-use respirator mask made with a needlepunched, four-ply fabric comprising two outer layers featuring Agion® silver/copper zeolite compounds permanently embedded into the fiber and two inner filtration layers to prevent microbial or other particle penetration. The outer layers have been shown to kill Streptococcus pyogenes, methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus and other bacteria; and inactivate H1N1, H5N1, the common cold and other viruses. The filtration layers comply with National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health N95 and N99 standards.

The N99 mask — certified according to European Respiratory Protection Standard EN149:2001 FFP3 level to have 99-percent-or-greater particle filtration effcacy, and also approved by Canadian regulatory agencies — is currently available outside the United States. It has been shown in trials to be effective for at least 28 days, compared with eight to 12 hours effective use for standard single-use masks; and the cost per day of use of the mask is about one-tenth of the cost of a single-use mask.

Bill Hurst, director of business development at Wakefield, Mass.-based Agion, said the silver and copper work synergistically to provide faster antimicrobial action than silver alone. “ The ionic exchange between the copper and the sulfur that makes up the bacterium cell membrane helps compromise that membrane,” he said.

Conclusion
Products such as the P-CAPT blood filter and the N99 respirator mask are but two innovations being offered in the growing nonwoven medical textile market. New fiber and processing technologies as well as collaborative, multidisciplinary efforts will contribute to ongoing product development and further market growth.

industriellen Bedarf mit über 600.000 Produkten?


Ein Produktsortiment mit mehr als 600.000 Industriekomponenten und ein großes Dienstleistungsangebot machen die ERIKS Gruppe weltweit zum idealen Partner für Ihre industrielle Beschaffung.
Für viele namhafte Hersteller ist ERIKS PremiumPartner.

ERIKS technische Beratung ERIKS beliefert auf vier Kontinenten in 22 Ländern mit über 80 Gruppengesell-schaften mehr als 100.000 Kunden.

Das Produktportfolio umfasst dabei die Bereiche Dichtungs- und Schlauch-technik, Antriebs- und Verbindungstechnik, Hydraulik und Pneumatik sowie Kunststofftechnik und Logistik-Systeme.

Für Ihre Erstausrüstung und Instandhaltung liefert ERIKS Ihnen eine breite Palette an Qualitäts-produkten ab Lager.


ERIKS ist weit mehr, als ein technisches Handelsunternehmen.
Gemäß Ihrer Bedarfsart haben Sie bei ERIKS die Wahl.

Fullservice RegionalCenter decken Ihren kompletten Bedarf an Industriekomponenten.

Divisionen bieten Ihnen für Anwendungen in den Bereichen Dichtungstechnik, Kunststofftechnik, Antriebstechnik und Schwingungsdämpfung spezielle Produkte und technische Beratung.

HL SERIES PLASTIC MIXER RECYCLE MACHINE / bag making machine / machine / paper machine / paper machinery / plastic machine / plastic machinery (HL SER


Product Feature:

Usage:
1.The machine combines the principles of grinding rapidly, agitating continuously, milling and fractioning to be heated with multi-knives and cooling and contracting. It produces granules from waste materials such as the plastic films, filament, ribbons, pieces, soft plastic pipes, foaming materials, and degrading materials, and puts then into reproduction .It is the latest ideal granulating equipment to recycle plastics and reproduce.

2.Advantage:
A: Milling, mixture and staining can be processed all in one
B: The machine takes up little area of land
C: It is characterized by simple structure and ease of operation
D: The interstitial of the blade can be adjusted with convenience of replacing.
E: It is characterized by high efficient in production and low consumption(1 ton of daily production ,and 200 degrees of electricity consumption ).
F: Granulate at lower temperature, do not damage molecular structure of materials basically, and do not damage physical performance.
Product Specifications:

Model No.
HL-100
HL-150

Capacity of Barrel
100L
150L

Output Capacity
30-60kg/h
60-80kg/h

Main Motor Power
15kw
18kw

Water Adding Device
125w
125w

Heating Power
1.5kw
1.5kw

Rotary Speed of Main Shaft
660r/min
660r/min

Machine Dimension(mm)
1300��600��1300
1500��700��1400

Argus Chemicals

Argus Chemicals srl is a Rare & Fine Chemicals company in Vernio (North of Florence), Italy . The company was started in 1985 by Dr. Enrico Ammannati

to produce chemicals for the chemical and pharmaceutical industry.

On a lab-scale basis, the company began to produce rare and otherwise unobtainable compounds, not generally found in commercial catalogues. Through the years the company expanded its capabilities up to Pilot-plant-scale to be able to satisfy the demand for kilo-batches of products involving air-sensitive reagents.

Initially Argus was devoted to the production of phosphine based ligands for metal catalysts. Now it also offers a broad service of R&D under secrecy agreement for pharmaceutical firms.



The expert and enthusiastic team of chemists at Argus, is able to satisfy the needs of the customers in the field for complex multistep-syntheses, optimisation procedures, and scale-up syntheses.


The R&D and Production departments are fully integrated. "Ab initio" synthesis and scale-up (grams to kilos) constitute one of the major outsourcing proposals from our customers.

FILLING OF FLAMMABLE LIQUIDS

Filling off flammable liquids requires special precautionary measures. It is essential that filling devices for flammable liquids are made of conductive materials. It is also vital that any electrostatic charges formed are eliminated completely and without spark formation. Stainless steel barrel pumps meet these requirements when the electrostatic charges are eliminated by using the antistatic set gas-tight filling off product.

GAS-TIGHT BARREL CONNECTORS

With volatile media, such as acetone or ammonia, hazardous vapours are formed in the container. Their evaporation into the surroundings and the risk to the user can be reduced by using a gas-tight barrel connector. With particularly toxic, noxious and readily volatile media, a closed filling system with a gas shuttle pipe is essential. In this method the gases displaced from the container are returned directly into the original container. The health endangering gases remain in the system; the greatest possible degree of safety during filling off is guaranteed.

FOODSTUFF FILLING OFF
If foodstuffs are to be filled off then it must be ensured that the materials used are physiologically harmless. Materials such as stainless steel, polypropylene or PTFE, which also have a neutral taste and odour can be recommended. The pump must also be easy to clean.

Bottles Holding Hot Liquids Leach Chemicals

Outdoor adventurers take note: Those hard plastic water bottles may leach hormone-mimicking chemicals if you fill them with piping hot water. (Mothers take note, too: Some baby bottles may be made of the same plastics, and could be subject to similar leaching.)

New research by University of Cincinnati scientists shows that Bisphenol A in polycarbonate plastic bottles used by rock climbers is more likely to leach out into the liquid when that liquid is hot. The temperature of the water is more important than the age of the bottle; some had speculated that deteriorating bottles would leach more of the chemical. The research is published in the journal Toxicology Letters.

Bisphenol A is among a class of chemicals, known as endocrine disruptors, that is causing growing concern among some scientists. Though legal to use and defended vigorously by manufacturers, these chemicals can mimic sex hormones at low levels, and that has raised fears they could cause subtle but lasting effects, particularly on developing fetuses and young children. The brain and reproductive system are most often affected in laboratory animal studies, but tests so far on humans have not been conclusive.

DISPERAL / DISPAL – dispersions of highly dispersible boehmite aluminas.

The main focus of Sasol's business unit 'Inorganic Specialty Chemicals', which belonged until 2001 to CONDEA Chemie, is on the production of synthetic aluminas derived from aluminium alkoxides. Our aluminas have high chemical purity and dispersibility. Important properties such as pore volume, particle size and specific surface area can be adjusted. Due to their variability of properties, these products over more than 30 years have found their way into a broad range of different applications, including catalyst supports, coatings, polymer additives, paint detackifier, sol-gel abrasives and ceramics, and many more.

We are a producer of:

1 High purity alumina
2 Dispersible alumina
3 Precipitated alumina
4 Hydrotalcite
5 Silica alumina
6 Alumina spheres, beads, and extrudates

PURALOX AND CATALOX - HIGH THERMAL STABLE AND LOW ATTRITION LOSS

PURALOX and CATALOX are the trademarks for the aluminium oxides (Al2O3 - gamma alumina, delta alumina and theta alumina) derived from the controlled activation of high purity aluminas.
The proprietary processes used in the preparation of these high purity aluminium oxides allow us to control many important physical properties and hence "tailor-made" a product for your process. Due to the tightly controlled processing conditions during and after manufacturing these aluminium oxides, PURALOX and CATALOX provide excellent specific catalytic activities, high surface area stability and low attrition loss.
PURALOX and CATALOX are arguably the best starting materials for the catalyst industry where consistency and an unobtrusive nature of the support are highly desired. These characteristics are of great importance for fluid and slurry bed reactions.
Due to their high thermal stability, PURALOX and CATALOX are widely used raw materials for wash coat formulations in emission control catalysts.

Chemical property estimation

Our world is widely contaminated with damaging chemicals, and companies create thousands of new, potentially dangerous chemicals each year. Due to the difficulty and expense of obtaining accurate measurements and the unreliability of reported values, we know surprisingly little about the properties of these contaminants. Determining the properties of chemicals is critical to judging their impact on environmental quality and in making decisions about emission rates, clean-up, and other important public health issues. Chemical Property Estimation describes modern methods of estimating chemical properties, methods which cost much less than traditional laboratory techniques and are sufficiently accurate for most environmental applications. Estimation methods are used to screen chemicals for testing, design monitoring and analysis methods, design clean-up procedures, and verify experimental measurements. The book discusses key methods for estimating chemical properties and considers their relative strengths and weaknesses. Several chapters are devoted to the partitioning of chemicals between air, water, soil, and biota; and properties such as solubility, vapor pressure, and chemical transport. Each chapter begins with a review of relevant theory and background information explaining the applications and limitations of each method. Sample calculations and practical advice on how and when to use each method are included as well. Each method is evaluated for accuracy and reliability. Computer software, databases, and internet resources are evaluated, as well as other supplementary material, such as fundamental constants, units of measure, and more.

More details
Chemical property estimation: theory and application
By Edward J. Baum
Edition: illustrated
Published by CRC Press, 1997
ISBN 0873719387, 9780873719384
386 pages

About UNEP Chemicals Branch

UNEP Chemicals works to protect humans and the environment from adverse effects caused by chemicals throughout their lifecycle, and hazardous waste. It is the focal point of UNEP activities on chemicals issues and the main catalytic force in the UN system for concerted global action on the environmentally sound management of hazardous chemicals.

UNEP Chemicals’ program reflects global priorities identified by governments. It works directly with countries to build national capacity for the clean production, use and disposal of chemicals, and promotes and disseminates state-of-the-art information on chemical safety. In response to mandates from UNEP’s Governing Council, it facilitates global action, including the development of international policy frameworks, guidelines and programs, to reduce and/or eliminate risks from chemicals.

In delivering policy and technical assistance for the sound management of chemicals, UNEP Chemicals builds and strengthens partnerships with governments, organisations like the OECD, and non-governmental organisations. It also works closely with agencies within the UN family, including WHO, FAO, UNIDO, ILO, UNITAR, UNDP and the World Bank, and with the secretariats of the Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm conventions on chemicals and wastes.

Helping farmers reap bumper crops

Urea is an important nitrogenous fertiliser and Tata Chemicals is a major manufacturer of the product in India

Tata Chemicals makes urea at its fertiliser complex in Babrala. The complex has an installed capacity of 8,64,000 tonnes per year, which constitutes nearly 12 per cent of the total urea produced by India's private sector.

The Babrala facility, among the best of its kind in India and comparable to the best in the world, has set new standards in technology, energy conservation, productivity and safety. It is the only fertiliser plant in the country to use dual feedstock: natural gas or naphtha, or a combination of both.

The nature of the soil in many Indian regions is such that nitrogenous fertilisers are an important input for most crops. It is, thus, important that farmers have access to good urea at low cost.

Government aid

To make fertilisers available to farmers at affordable prices and to encourage balanced use, the Indian government regulates the sale price of fertilisers and provides a subsidy on urea and concessions on decontrolled phosphatic and potassic fertilisers. The government provides subsidy for the production and use of fertilisers under the retention price-cum-subsidy scheme (RPS), which was introduced in 1977.

The main objective of the scheme is to insulate farmers from fluctuations in fertiliser costs. It is also intended to ensure that fertiliser consumption does not suffer, as its growth was an essential ingredient of the Indian green revolution.


The RPS scheme is aimed at assuring a reasonable return on investment to indigenous manufacturers and to attract further investment in the fertiliser sector. The scheme has proved its worth in terms of stimulating higher production and use of fertilisers, thereby contributing to increased agricultural production in the country.

Hydrobromic acid

Specification: T C specification.

Description: A clear liquid, colourless to pale yellow when packed and may turn yellow to brown with time.

Properties and storage: Hydrobromic acid is a concentrated solution of hydrogen bromide gas in water. Solution with strengths higher than about 48 per cent fume freely when exposed to the atmosphere.

These fumes are extremely corrosive and an irritant to the mucous membrane. A solution of less than 48 per cent is usually easier to handle and store. Hydrobromic acid is sensitive to light, which slowly decomposes it and imparts to it a reddish-brown colour.

Uses: Concentrated hydrobromic acid is used principally in the preparation of certain organic chemicals and vitamin A.

Packing: 40- to 55-kg HDPE container.

Liquid bromine

Specification: IS: 2142-1992 (reaffirmed in 1997).

Description: A dark reddish-brown fuming liquid with a highly irritating odour.

Properties and storage: Liquid bromine is a dark, reddish-brown, fuming, volatile liquid with a suffocating odour. Bromine attacks all metals and organic tissues. It vaporises at room temperature.

One litre of bromine weighs about 3.1 kg. One ml of bromine dissolves in about 30 ml of water. It is freely soluble in alcohol, chloroform, ether, carbon disulphide, carbon tetrachloride and concentrated hydrochloric acid. Liquid bromine should be stored in well-stoppered containers.

Normally, bromine is stored in amber-coloured glass containers or glass-lined steel tanks, but dry bromine can be stored in well-designed lead-lined or monel drums.

Uses: Bromine is used primarily in the manufacture of organic and inorganic bromides. It is an important reagent in the preparation of organic compounds involving a bromination step. It is also used in water treatment, shrink-proofing wool, as an intermediate for fumigants, as fire-extinguisher fluid and military poison gas.

Safety precautions: While handling bromine, always keep ammonia water within reach.

Packing: 3- and 3.5-kg glass bottles.

Liquid chlorine

Specification: IS: 646-1986 (reaffirmed in 1996).

Description: The chemical is a clear yellow liquid and, when evaporated over a clean white tile, leaves no residue.

Composition: When tested to the method prescribed in appendix 'A' IS: 646-1986, the vapourised liquid contains not less than 99.8 per cent by volume of chlorine gas.

Properties and storage: Liquid chlorine is a clear amber-coloured mobile fluid and is about one-and-one-half times the weight of water. It evaporates extremely rapidly when spilled, one volume of liquid forming 460 volumes of gas. Thus, a liquid chlorine leak may be extremely hazardous, as the quantity of chlorine given out is many times greater than that from a gaseous leak.

Chlorine is slightly soluble in water; the maximum solubility being approximately 1 per cent at 10° C. Chlorine cylinders and containers should be stored in a dried ventilated place, protected from excessive heat and direct sunlight. It is preferable that the storage room be fire-proof. Storage near gangways or in sub-surface locations should be avoided.

Uses: Chlorine is used mainly as a bleaching agent and a disinfectant. It is also used in metallurgy and in the manufacture of organic and inorganic chlorinated products.

Safety precautions:
1. Even a minor leak must be attended to immediately. If the leak occurs in the containers in which the chlorine is being used, the container valve should be closed immediately.
2. Certified gas masks should be used whenever chlorine is present in significant quantities. The gas mask should be inspected frequently.
3. Follow routine first-aid procedures during a minor incident of gassing, but in an emergency call a physician immediately.
4. Water should not be spread on a chlorine leak.
5. Leak at valve steams can often be stopped by tightening the valve packing nuts and/or closing the valve.

Packing: 900-kg and 1,000-kg cylinders.

Armyworms























from the field by hand or net during the day and fed to
chickens and ducks. Mix the caterpillars with other
food or the fowl will refuse to eat armyworms after a
while.
Chemical control: Insecticides should be the last
resort for armyworm control. The choice of insecticide
depends on factors such as the application
equipment available, the cost of the insecticide, the
presence of fish, or a need to preserve natural
enemies. Like all pesticides, the benefits of using an
insecticide must be weighed against the risks to
health and the environment. Indiscriminate
insecticide use can disrupt existing biological control,
resulting in pest resurgence or outbreaks. Before
using a pesticide contact a crop protection specialist
for suggestions, guidance, and warnings specific to
your situation. Always read pesticide labels carefully.

Chemical Engineering

Students in Chemical Engineering graduate programs experience high-quality, challenging, and exciting interdisciplinary research in a dynamic and cohesive environment.
Graduate students have access to leading facilities within the department and the university, as well as to research groups with strong links to international researchers and industry (e.g. DuPont, Xerox, SAS, BP Chemicals France, Praxair). Finally, the program has a dynamic group of award-winning researchers that are strongly committed to research, graduate supervision and teaching at a nationally and internationally recognized research university

Magical chemical reactions set audience ‘on fire’

M&Ms that spontaneously combust, metal that melts itself and elephant toothpaste—these are just some of the magical displays that faculty and students from the Carleton University department of chemistry performed to packed houses on February 23, 2008. Here, Professor Jeffrey Manthorpe demonstrates how surface area can affect the rate of a reaction. Blowing a powder such as lycopodium into a flame, as Manthorpe is doing, causes the substance to burn. However, when a match is held to a handful of the powder, nothing happens.

Green Chemistry Grows From Grass Roots

Green chemistry, or sustainable chemistry as it is sometimes known, is defining the way in which the chemical and allied industries develop new products and processes. In general, it means the design of chemical products and processes that reduce or eliminate the use or generation of hazardous substances.

In addition, it includes the 'cradle to cradle' concept whereby the life-cycle of a product can be tracked from the production of the basic materials to the manufacture, use and subsequent disposal, all of which should not have a negative impact on the environment. But as well as the positive environmental impact, green chemistry can also lead to significantly reduced plant operating costs, benefiting business.

Established chemical production processes have seen changes which have led to reduced energy and water consumption, minimised by-products and even noise reduction. A well-documented example is Shell Chemical's styrene production process.
Changes since 1980, when the company first commercially produced styrene monomer, mean that Shell's newest plants use 35% less energy for every tonne of material produced, while emissions to air have been cut by 90%.