Category: Chemical Industry

Silverson Laboratory Mixers Are At The Forefront Of Graphene Research

A leading university recently placed an order for (13) Silverson Laboratory mixers for their new graphene center. The new facility will help accelerate graphene commercialization.  Graphene is a two-dimensional material consisting of a single layer of carbon atoms arranged in a honeycomb structure one million times thinner than a sheet of paper. It is the strongest known material – 200 times stronger than steel, it is highly conductive of both heat and electricity, and yet lightweight and flexible, making it a desirable material for use in many industries including aerospace, engineering, digital electronics, bio-medicines, transport and energy.

Graphene was first isolated from graphite in 2004 using a sticky tape method – removing flakes from a piece of graphite using a piece of sticky tape. By repeatedly separating the graphite fragments, flakes just one atom thick were created. Although this method is still used in laboratories it cannot be replicated on a larger scale, and research into ways of isolating graphene in sufficient amounts to be commercially viable has been ongoing for some years. A process called exfoliation, which is the high shear mixing of graphite in a suitable solvent, has been proven to isolate small but significant amounts of graphene.

Silverson mixers have the high shear necessary to reduce the graphite down to usable defect-free graphene, and the equipment has been used by many of the leading researchers due to the ease of scale up from the laboratory mixers to larger production models. Subsequently Silverson have already sold mixers to research establishments all over the world for this application.  The Model L5M-A Sealed Unit, L5M-A standard unit, and the Model AX5, each with a full range of work-heads, is useful equipment for this research work.

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Barriquand Platular® Plate Heat Exchangers

The Barriquand Platular® Plate Heat Exchangers’s thermal performance and minimal temperature approach is appropriate for exchanges on difficult, viscous fluids or fluids charged with suspended materials. This heat exchanger is also fitting for the condensation of vapor under vacuum as well as prolonged exchanges.

Barriquand calls The Platular®, “The most flexible counter flow heat exchanger on the market” due to its compact size and various functions.

The Platular® has the ability to facilitate all types of heat exchange (counter flow heat exchanger in general):

• Liquid / liquid
• Loaded liquids
• Condenser
• Evaporator
• Interchanger
• Reboiler
• Steam heater
• Gas / gas (incl. air to air heat exchanger)
• Gas / liquid
• Air / water
• Overhead reflux condensers

Barriquand’s Platular® Heat Exchanger is available in a few types:

• For applications utilizing dirty fluids, the Type X provides savings on cleaning and maintenance needs.
• The first generation of Platular® heat exchangers, the Type IJS, was introduced in the sixties.
• Type PCV is an extremely robust unit with high thermal performance.

Cleaning a Platular® Heat Exchanger

The Platular® heat exchanger was designed for easy maintenance and a reduction in maintenance costs.

• The corrugated plates in this model increases turbulence with local vibrations of the fluid’s speed. These plates permit chemically cleaning without having to open the unit.
• For simple maintenance, the Platular® was designed with a lack of of gaskets at the exchange surface level. The only gaskets are flat gaskets on the door and do not need to be changed at each opening.
• The units are equipped with hinged doors which allows for the Platular® to be opened rapidly in order to perform mechanical cleaning with high-pressure cleaners. This process is typically performed during plant shutdowns.

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About EKATO

CESCO’s partner EKATO, is the leader for technology in design, engineering, manufacturing and development of industrial agitators, reactors, mechanical seals as well as vacuum process mixers and dryers and process plants since 1933. The German company provides high quality, cost effective mixing technology solution that is designed for each customers specific application.

Industrial Agitators EM

EKATO EM agitators are designed for a wide range of volumes and pressurized or unpressurized vessels. The unit can either be directly driven by a motor or together with a gearbox. A connection of the motor via IEC-adapter or a gear motor are also possible. The shaft can either be sealed by a mechanical seal or other seal types.

Compact Agitators FD

The compact EKATO agitators FD, KD and HWL-A are designed for open vessels as well as those that have a low pressure. Their robust design and excellent smoothness when operating make them extremely reliable, even when mixing media with high solid contents. Further advantages are the low overall height and the modular design which ensure maintenance at low cost and an easy modification of the agitator, if necessary.

Rapid Response Program

The two agitators listed above are eligible for EKATO’s Rapid Response Program. This program is cost effective for the customer and cuts down lead time down to less than 4 weeks. Your custom agitator will be assembled locally in America.

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CESCO participated in the 10th Lithium Supply & Markets Conference, with centrifuge partner Ferrum.  Ferrum supplies continuous pusher centrifuges and batch vertical & horizontal basket centrifuges.

by Scott Sobolewski at 8:30 AM in Chemical Industry, Brand Awareness, Vendor/Partner News

Again in 2017, CESCO partner Ferrum Inc. was present at this small but very focused show in Charleston, SC. Also this year, it was a pleasure to welcome many participants at Table at the Hotel Belmond Charleston Place. We not only appreciated the interesting conversations held in a pleasant atmosphere, but also the direct contacts to our existing and potential customers. We thank all the visitors and look forward to actively support you with current and future projects with centrifuges from Ferrum.

by Scott Sobolewski at 9:24 AM in Chemical Industry, Brand Awareness, Vendor/Partner News

CESCO was involved in the sale of a modular distillation plant, designed and built by partner Sulzer Chemtech USA, Inc.​​, and installed in the Charlotte, NC area. The scope also included a hot oil skid designed and fabricated by Heatec, Inc., another CESCO partner. The plant is used for the recovery and purification of dimethylacetamide (DMAc), an important solvent used in the ​manufacturing of engineered thermoplastics for high temperature applications​.