Pilot Plant to Drive Ox-Combustion Carbon Capture

In a bid to push forward the commercialisation of a first-of-its-kind carbon capture technology, a thermal facility will test a way to capture CO2 emissions from coal-fired power plants. It will soon start operations in Ottawa, Canada.

The project is being jointly undertaken by the US Department of Energy and Natural Resources Canada. Both countries will come together to test oxy-fired pressurised fluidized bed combustion (oxy-PFBC). Officials from both countries believe the new process will be able to capture CO2 economically and efficiently, as opposed to other technologies. If the pilot plant results are successful, it will help boost the oxy-PFBC process to commercial use.

What is Oxy-PFBC?

It is based on the oxy-fuel combustion process, which makes use of pure oxygen as opposed to air in the mission to burn fuel and manufacture heat. [Read more.....]

Pharmaceutical Packaging with a Twist

A number of renowned pharmaceutical customers are opting for innovative primary packaging products to meet their global requirements. In fact, a number of companies are offering pharma glass and plastic packaging products that are registered with the FDA. These innovative packaging products have been manufactured according to stringent quality parameters to ensure longevity and client satisfaction.

Plastic and glass rank among the best, and primary packaging material choices for liquid and solid dosage pharmaceuticals. Therefore, it becomes necessary for companies to produce pharma glass and plastic packaging that meets requirements.  

In addition to ensuring durability, most of the packaging comes in interesting shapes and sizes. Therefore, these companies are also about providing visual appeal, in addition to functionality. [Read more...]

The Corrosion-Resistant Resin Market Looks to do Brisk Business

There are a number of industries globally that incur heavy losses that can be attributed to corrosion annually. How is corrosion harmful? It can become an impediment and pose as a hazard to people and property. In a bid to prevent such damage, corrosion resistant resins come into use. They help minimise these damages that affect equipment, structures, and machinery. These can be identified as the main drivers for the corrosion resistant resins market.

Going solely by the type, the epoxy segment is touted to lead the CRR market during the forecast period. Why is epoxy touted to do so well? It has cost-efficient and has superior physical properties. In fact, it is preferred over other variants of corrosion resistant resins.

Corrosion Resistance

This apart, the composites application segment is touted to grow at the highest CAGR during the period under forecast.  Going by the application, the composites segment may grow at the highest CAGR between the period from 2016 and 2026. Considering more businesses are adopting lightweight materials, these composites are now being used more often instead of traditional metals, mainly because they are cost-effective and do not require much maintenance. Most manufacturing companies’ R&D departments are in the process of conducting researches to open up and expand the application area of Corrosion Resistant resins. Once this kicks into high gear, it will in all probability drive the market during the forecast period. All one can do now is wait and watch to see how it goes.

Ontario Pledges $4.5 Million For Bio-Refinery Pilot Plant

In August, the Ontario government made its intentions clear about investing $4.5 million into a bio-refinery pilot plant with the aim to produce eco-friendly products in the area of Thunder Bay.

Pilot Plant

The financial aid will allow FP Innovations to set up a pilot plant, which will aid in producing green chemicals from wood to be used in the construction and mining industries, thereby replacing petroleum-based chemicals. Government officials believe that this financial investment will give Ontario's forestry sector the boost it needs to create jobs for the residents of Thunder Bay.

When the project hits the ground running, it will help Ontario’s pulp and paper industry to become more sustainable and profitable. How can they achieve it? By making the big shift from newsprint to the use of other products, said Pedram Fatehi, the industrial research chair in green chemicals and processes at Lakehead University.

Fatehi was quick to point out that the paper industry has been struggling because newsprint was their major product. He added that the consumption of newsprint is very low at the moment. Therefore, they want to do their best to convert the current process into something that will be more profitable and sustainable. If this plan comes into fruition, it will definitely be a win-win for everyone involved.

The proposed pilot plant will be set up at Thunder Bay plant of Resolute Forest Products, which has also pledged an addition amount of $3.5 million for the project.According to media reports, the new plant will help with mass production and the commercialization of green bio-chemicals that have been derived from wood

The Industrial Agitators Market is expected to Skyrocket by 2024

If one thought the industrial agitators market was doing well at the moment, there’s more good news in store. According to a report by Grand View Research, Inc, the –mark global industrial agitators market may well touch the USD 3.46 billion by 2024.

The industrial agitators market will likely witness a significant growth because of rapid industrialization in growing economies like India, Brazil, and China. What is the primary factor driving this growth story? The increased industrial activities in these countries are boosting the demand for agitators that are highly-efficient.
Agitators are most commonly, and efficiently, used in the chemical, food and beverage, and wastewater treatment applications. Therefore, the move to embrace mixing and blending technology in process industries is expected to drive the market over the period.

What are industrial agitators? They are the machines that help process the products in industries for the job of mixing liquids, promoting the reaction of chemical substances and increasing heat transfer. The demand for advanced and customised devices which are specific to the end-user application will help drive market growth. Wastewater and chemical treatment industries have a huge complex agitation demand. This has helped spike the demand for these devices.

industrial agitators

The report also suggested the following:
The top entry segment is projected to grow at a CAGR of over 6.5% from 2016 to 2024.These industrial agitators are highly durable. This apart, increasing adoption in the oil & gas and chemical industry will help boost the overall industry growth. Asia Pacific is projected to be the fastest-growing region because of the growth in the industrial sector. Favourable government policies will also help boost regional demand.

Decoding the Nutsche Filtration and Drying Procedure

Drying and filtration are widely regarded as crucial operations in a number of industrial processes that require separating liquid from solid matter.  It should be noted that solids can easily be discharged directly into a dryer. However, in the case of an agitated nutsche filter/dryer, the function of drying is carried out by the same equipment.

Nutsche filtration can be termed as a batch filtration technique that makes use of vacuum or pressure in a closed vessel. What are some of the benefits associated with using this technology? They include product isolation, reduced product handling, minimal operator exposure, in addition to environmental protection against solvent vaporization. This apart, the containment level supplied may even comply with GMP as well as other safety and health requirements that companies face the heat for.  It is for these reasons that the nutsche filter/dryers are more popularly used in pharmaceutical, dye and paint production, waste water treatment and fine chemical applications.

The basic steps that constitute the drying and filtration process in nutsche dryers/filters include:
Filling or Charging is the first step. It involves transferring the product to be filtered from the primary location to the filter/dryer.

Nutsche filtration | nutsche dryers/filters

The filtering step involves using pressure and/or vacuum to force liquid through the filter media and solid bed.
The displacement washing process involves the spraying of fresh wash liquid on top of the solid cake. One should take care not to disturb the surface. The liquid is usually pushed through with pressure or vacuum.
Reslurry washing is usually performed if dissolving of impurities or additional extraction is necessary.
The smoothing process usually follows the filtration or wash process, most notably after the final wash. The agitator comes in handy to close cracks and compress the cake to ensure minimal residual moisture.
The drying or cooling process is done to ensure the solid is evacuated into a second dryer in order to complete the drying, as well as the cooling process.  In agitated nutsche filter/dryers, both functions are combined. In fact, drying may even take place in the same vessel.  In order to make this a success, the vessel surfaces are heated.  The types of drying that can be conducted include vacuum drying and convection drying.
The discharging process is the final process. This is carried out through the valve/port which is placed on the vessel sidewall.  

Understanding Industrial Agitators

Before understanding how industrial agitators function, it is essential to zone in on the various types on agitators in use across the globe. Here is a breakdown:

Paddle Agitators: This is among the primary types of agitators replete with blades that extend up to tank walls. Paddle agitators are put to use where uniform laminar flow of liquids is required.

Anchor Agitators: The anchor agitator comprises a shaft and a propeller that has an anchor-like design. These agitators can be mounted at an angle or centrally. They are mostly used in reactors.

Radial Propeller Agitators: Radial industrial agitators comprise propellers akin to marine propellers. They have two to four blades that rotate in a screw-like motion. The material is propelled and agitated parallel to the shaft.

Propeller Agitators: A propeller agitator has been shaped with blades that taper towards the shaft to decrease centrifugal force and increase axial flow. Propeller agitators are the best fit for hassle-free mixing jobs.

Turbine Agitators: The turbine agitator has the ability to create turbulent movement of fluids owing to the combination of rotational and centrifugal motion.

Helical Agitators: A helical industrial agitator comes with blades that have a twisted mechanism, quite similar to the threads of a screw. The curves ensure fluids are vigorously churned to be agitated. Helical agitators are especially useful for mixing viscous liquids. 

It is also pertinent to note that the diameter of an agitator is dependent on the diameter of the vessel. These industrial agitators are also useful for the production of pharma glass. 

Therefore, it can safely be added that the diameter of an agitator is 1/3rd the diameter of the tank for an axial flow turbine, marine propeller, disc blade turbine and backward blade turbine, among others. On a sidenote, the pharma glass industry depends on the functioning of industrial agitators. 

Changing Dynamic: From Pharma Glass to Plastic

Pharmaceutical packaging has undergone a tremendous shift in the market preference. Now, there is a preference for pharma glass over plastics. This trend has been especially true in the injectable devices segment. This shift has also affected the product portfolio of a number of renowned parenteral packaging supplier companies in their struggle to meet market demand.

A number of tests were conducted in pilot plants to assess the feasibility of making the change from glass to plastic.

Here were some of the factors responsible for the shift from pharma glass to plastic:

- Recent advancements in the drug formulation stage have resulted in increased drug complexity as well as quality challenges that arise due to the use of glass. This includes delamination, breakage as well as siliconization, among a host of other factors. Therefore, the problems posed by glass have also affected pharma players’ injectable drug’s packaging procurement. Why so? It is because the supply base is characterized by long term contracts.

However, it is vital to note that parenteral packaging is also essential. Industrial agitators also play a vital role.

Drugs are most often than not administered through intravenous, intra ocular or intradermal formats. These are called parenteral drugs. These drugs differ from extra dermal and conventional oral drug intake. Parenteral drugs help in curing diseases like cancer, diabetes and rheumatoid arthritis, in addition to a host of other diseases. Therefore, as far as these diseases are concerned, injectable are highly effective methods of administration. Therefore, experts are testing the effectiveness of plastic over glass. The incorporation of industrial agitators is also novel.

It is pertinent to mention that parenteral packaging is among the fastest growing pharmaceutical packaging formats. From 2014-19, parenteral package had a CAGR of 8-9%. The spike in demand is driven by the rise in lifestyle disease, increasing health awareness and an ageing population in countries like China and India. 

Why the Shift from Pharma Glass to Plastic?

Why the Shift from Pharma Glass to Plastic?

Pharmaceutical packaging  has undergone a shift in market preference, with manufacturers preferring plastic to pharma glass. This is the case primarily with the injectable devices segment. The change in preference has triggered a recent shift in product portfolio of certain renowned parenteral packaging supplier companies. This has been done to meet market demand.

A number of important tests were carried out to ascertain if it would be feasible to shift shifting from pharma glass to plastic.

 The factors that influenced the shift to plastic include: -
One of the primary reasons that triggered the shift includes advancements in the drug formulation stage. This led to an increased drug complexity as well as quality challenges that arise due to the use of glass, which includes breakage, delamination , in addition to siliconization, among other factors. The problems that glass face have also proved to be a cause of concern for pharma players’ injectable drug’s packaging procurement. Why is it a problem? It can be attributed to the supply base, which is characterized by long term contracts.

Here are some of the main reasons why parenteral packaging is necessary:
Drugs are administered primarily through intravenous, intradermal or the intra ocular formats - called parenteral drugs. These drugs differ from conventional oral and extra dermal drug intake. Parenteral drugs help to cure diseases like cancer, rheumatoid arthritis and diabetes and other diseases. Therefore, in these cases, injectable is an effective method of administration.

 Also, parenteral packaging is among the fastest growing pharmaceutical packaging formats. Therefore, the shift to plastic does not come as a big surprise. In fact, Industrial Agitators for the pharmaceutical industry have helped the sector boom. These industrial agitators are used for a number of mixing operations.  

The Change in Preference from Pharma Glass to Plastic

Pharmaceutical packaging has witnessed a significant shift in the market preference – from Pharma Glass to plastics. This is especially true in the injectable devices segment. This change in preference has also led to a recent shift in the product portfolio of a few renowned parenteral packaging supplier companies in order to meet the market demand. There were significant tests carried out in companies’ pilot plant to assess the feasibility of shifting from glass to plastic.

What were some of the factors that influenced the decision to shift to plastic? -

 Some of the main reasons driving the shift include recent advancements made in the drug formulation stage. This has led to an increased drug complexity in addition to quality challenges faced by the use of glass, including delamination, breakage, and even siliconization, among other reasons. Therefore, the problems faced by glass have also proved to be major concerns for pharma players’ injectable drug’s packaging procurement. This is because the supply base is characterized by long term contracts.

Pharma glass

However, it is important to better understand why parenteral packaging is essential. Drugs are usually administered through the intravenous, intra ocular or the intradermal formats are referred to as parenteral drugs. These drugs are different from conventional oral as well as extra dermal drug intake. Parenteral drugs are used to cure disease including cancer, diabetes and rheumatoid arthritis, as well as other diseases. For these diseases, injectable are highly effective methods of administration. Therefore, Pilot Plants are testing the use of plastic as opposed to glass.

It is imperative to note that parenteral packaging is regarded as among the fastest growing pharmaceutical packaging formats. Therefore, the shift from pharma glass to plastic was not entirely a surprise. Parenteral package has a CAGR of 8-9% from 2014-19. The boost in demand is driven by lifestyle disease, ageing population in addition to increasing health awareness in countries like India and China. -

The Burgeoning Industrial Agitators Market

Industrial agitators have been in demand in this era of rapid industrialization. By 2024, the worldwide industrial agitators market is touted to touch the USD 3.46 billion mark. This spells good news for the industry, if the news report by Grand View Research, Inc is anything to go by. The industrial agitators market will likely experience high growth due to the rapid industrialization in countries, and burgeoning economies, like China, India and Brazil. With industrial activities on the rise, these nation-states’ demand for efficient and corrosion-resistant agitators will reach an all-time high.

Why Agitators?
Industrial agitators are commonly used in the chemical, food & beverage, as well as the waste water treatment industries. The increasing adoption of blending and mixing technology in process industries may enhance the market during the period leading to 2024.

Industrial agetators

Agitators help process the products in industries used for mixing liquids, increasing heat transfer as well as promoting reaction of chemical substances. One of the other factors that could drive growth is the burgeoning demand for advanced, customised and corrosion resistant agitators that have a specific to the end-user application. The waste water treatment and chemical industries have a high demand for agitation, thereby boosting the demand for industrial agitators.

The Important Findings

 The top entry segment is expected to grow to a CAGR of over 6.5% till 2024. Industrial agitators are durable and provide homogenous and mixing needs in connection with requirements. The chemical and oil & gas industries’ use of these agitators has helped boost the industry growth

 The North American industry will likely remain the largest market due to the widespread adoption of agitators in a number of industrial sectors. It should be noted that the regional market is highly saturated and may account for over 30% by 2024.

The Many Uses of Industrial Agitators

Agitators, as the name suggests, can be best termed as instrumental devices which places liquids, semi-fluids and fluids into an “agitated state” with the help of a stirring motion. Since the advent of gadgets and machinery, agitators have become a staple in households owing to their various functions. It should be noted that industrial agitators perform the function of putting things in motion. Industrial agitators have made a significant impact in the food, chemical, pharmaceutical and cosmetic industries. They help blend liquids, promote reactions of chemical substances while also induce heat transfer with the help of heating and cooling. Since they are corrosion resistant, wear and tear will not be a major issue. 

Industrial Agitator

One of the most common uses of industrial agitators is in the drilling and concrete mixing process. In the drilling process, agitators are used for drilling into mud and other substances. The mud agitators are used to drill deep underground with the intent to mix mud and soil with water so as to ensure the easy removal of mud and soil away from the opening. 

In the concrete mixing process, agitators are usually latched onto the interior of a concrete holding tank that is them mounted on a large vehicle, especially trucks. The agitators placed inside the tankers starts a rotating the concrete inside without allowing the cement to dry before reaching the construction site. These agitators are usually corrosion resistant due to the materials used to construct them.

Industrial agitators come in a variety of sizes and designs that are suited for different applications. Agitators have greatly benefited the mining industry due to their ability to improve existing mixing systems. The use of agitators in paint mixing applications has had a significant impact on the commercial paint industry over the years.

Advantage Pilot Plant to Ensure a Smooth Commercial Process

Why is a pilot plant important for research and development? Most processes are scale dependent, making a pilot plant an integral part of the commercial process. The transition from a small-scale operations to a large scale production plant can be a challenging process. In such cases, the transition needs to smooth, but the initial set-up can be difficult. 

A large scale production plant is usually built on information which has been gathered by smaller units. 
There could be variations in kinetics, with reactions not as per expectation.

A pilot plant can help minimize the risk of human error, making performing experiments easier. A pilot plant allows you to make authentic comparisons as well as aiding in producing products in small quantities. When produced in small quantities, studying the reaction process is easier. Samples can also be handed over to consumers. In fact, for a pharma glass company, testing glass before manufacturing in a pilot plant is always a good option. 

A pilot plant is useful as far as coming with estimates of mass balance. Companies will be able to yield proper estimates. Lab experiments usually yield erroneous mass balances because quantities are smaller. When it comes to large scale production, values are way higher. The plant allows for the production of specialty chemicals that could go down well with markets.

Pilot plant | Pharma Glaass

A pilot plant can help an industrial unit proceed from lab testing to a full fledged operation without too much of a risk associated.The economics of setting up a large scale production is taken care of as corrosion resistant products, which may be the case with pharma glass,  may not really sell well. 

How to Improve Your Industrial Mixing Process

Are you thinking of expanding your manufacturing business in food & beverages, chemical, pharmaceutical, or cosmetics industry? If yes, then mixing of constituents, such as liquids, chemical substances, or even heat, becomes a key element of your manufacturing process. This is where Industrial Agitators play a key role. However, there are certain important attributes to keep in mind before deciding on the type of agitator set-up to be purchased:

Type of Agitator Machine to be used:

Based on the ‘type of mixing’ to be undertaken, the agitator set-up is decided. Be it between liquids, gas with liquid, solids with liquids, or even liquids with solids & gas, a common element between these is the requirement of a Corrosion Resistant lining in the agitator tank. This not only helps extend the agitator set-up’s life but also ensures the sanctity of the constituents being mixed.

Some of the popular Industrial Agitator Equipments include mechanical agitators, rotating tank agitators, agitators working with a pump blasting liquid, static agitators, and agitator mixer padole type, among others. So, it is imperative that based on your existing infrastructure (explained below) and the business requirement, you select the appropriate agitator machine set-up.

Fitment in the existing machine set-up:

Another decision that needs to be made is whether the inclusion of the agitator machine fits into your existing machine set-up. For example, in case of agitators for liquids, the preferred placement is vertically on top of the tank or horizontally on the side of the tank. As a result, it is important to consider how new agitator system will fit into the existing set-up. Further, if you plan on changing the mixer constituents, depending on what you plan to mix, the tank needs to be made Corrosion Resistant, if not already. This in in turn, will require you to re-think the speed of your manufacturing expansion.    

Corosion Resistant & Industrial Agitators

    

The Packaging Material of Choice for your Pharmaceutical Business

Do you own a Pharmaceutical, Cosmetics, or a Food & Beverage business? If yes, than packaging is one of the key aspects of your customer experience. Especially if you operate in the pharmaceutical industry and end up working with jars, vials, cartridges, and ampoules, where protection from foreign particles is of prime importance. This is where Pharma glass becomes a packaging material of choice for many. If you are in the market for packaging glass or setting up a Pilot Plant, you should keep the following in mind:

Pharma Glass

Quality & Conformance of the Packaging Material

Depending on the sensitivity of your solutions/products, the packaging glass with an appropriate quality level should be used. Typically, a pharma glass conforming to the international ISO GMP 15378/ISO 900 standards is considered as base quality suitable for most operations. Then there are region specific standards, such as EU–Pharmacopoeia or US-Pharmacopoeia. With these conformance standards in place, you can be assured that the quality of the packaging materials will satisfy your requirements. 

Requirement of Further Treatment

Based on the methods used to manufacture packaging glass, the number of particles present in the glass may vary. Now, in most cases such particles may not interfere with your product. However, if your product is sensitive in nature and exposure to foreign particles should be at a minimum, such as in case of a Pilot Plant, then manufacturing methods of the packaging materials become important. Here, keep an eye out for manufacturers following the laminar-flow technology or conforming to ISO 8 (category 100 000) standards. These quality standards lets you know that further treatment of the packaging material is not required and can be used directly in sensitive apparatus of the Pilot Plant.