It is an hypothesis that the sun will rise tomorrow: and this means that we do not know whether it will rise -- Ludwig Wittgenstein (Philosopher, 1889 - 1951)
One of the great things about Alerts is that they remind me that researchers by the hundreds or even thousands are working tirelessly to solve the problems caused by the thousands of researchers who came before them.
For researchers in the desulfurization arena, this item may be useful …
In situ magnetic separation and immobilization of dibenzothiophene-desulfurizing bacteria
Yu-Guang Li, Hong-Shuai Gao, Wang-Liang Li, Jian-Min Xing, Hui-Zhou Liu
Key Laboratory of Green Process and Engineering, National Key Laboratory of Biochemical Engineering, Institute of Process Engineering, Chinese Academy of Sciences, P.O. Box 353, Beijing 100190, PR China
From the article’s introduction we read …
Environmental regulations on sulfur contents have prompted research on high-level desulfurization for near-zero sulfur (<1 ppm) ultra-clean fuels ( Song, 2003 ). To meet lower sulfur requirements, refiners need to operate their conventional hydrodesulfurization (HDS) unit at more severe conditions than usual, such as higher temperature, higher pressure and longer residence time (Soleimani et al., 2007), and some aromatic sulfur-containing compounds such as alkylated dibenzothiophenes (Cx -DBTs) are resistant to HDS treatment. Therefore, new design approaches, such as biodesulfurization (BDS) ( Kilbane, 2006), adsorption desulfurization (Yang et al., 2003) and oxidation extraction desulfurization (Yu et al., 2005) were proposed for efficient production of ultra low sulfur fuels.
Our previously work had sought to improve the desulfurization performance by assembling γ-Al2O3 NPs to the surface of Pseudomonas delafieldii R-8 cells to facilitate adsorption of DBT ( Shan et al., 2005a,b). From the point of commercial application, the Rhodococcus strains possess several properties favorable for desulfurization over Pseudomonas in an oil–water system. First, the hydrophobic nature of Rhodococcus makes them access preferentially Cx-DBTs from the oil, resulting in little mass-transfer limitation (Le Borgne and Quintero, 2003; Monticello, 2000 ). Moreover, the Rhodococcus bacteria are more resistant to solvents than Pseudomonas (Bouchez-Naitali et al., 2004 ). Therefore, we attempted to develop a simple and effective technique by integrating the advantages of magnetic separation and cell immobilization for BDS process with Rhodococcus . To our knowledge, in situ magnetic separation and immobilization of bacteria for BDS has never been reported. In the present work, Fe3O4 NPs were modified with ammonium oleate to produce hydrophilic magnetic fluids. Oleate-modified NPs successfully recovered the target from the culture medium of Rhodococcus erythropolis LSSE8-1. The one-step magnetically immobilized cells exhibited good catalytic activity and repeated-batch desulfurization operational stability.
Source: http://www.nanoarchive.org/7197/
Following up, I visited the Web site of the Key Laboratory of Green Process and Engineering, which described the group’s mission as follows …
Focusing on the key scientific and technological problems in green utilization of resources including natural and secondary resources and applying the theories and methods of environmentally benign green process engineering, the laboratory aims to investigate and develop new theories, new processes, originally innovative technologies, and industrialized technical integration with high efficiency and clean attributes for upgrading process in environmental and ecological industry systems and materials industries. By establishing demonstration pilot plants and transferring specific and integrated clean production technologies, the laboratory is devoted to boost circular economy of process industries in Chi
source: http://english.ipe.cas.cn/rh/rd/200906/t20090629_9235.html
Might be worth bookmarking this site for future reference.
Wednesday, December 30, 2009
Sunday, December 27, 2009
Google Tools Tip: Blogger
An optimist stays up until midnight to see the New Year in. A pessimist stays up to make sure the old year leaves. -- Bill Vaughan
Add value to your work as a desulfurization expert with Blogger. By posting tidbits of information that surfaces as you pursue your work, you can help keep colleagues abreast of new developments.
Some of your colleagues will be co-workers in your organization ... others will be researchers in other organizations.
Either way, you enhance your reputation as an expert with very little additional effort on your part.
To start, just go to the Google home page and look for Tools.
Another useful site for the new blogger is www.WikiHow.com ... search for "blog" and you will get several articles with useful hints on successful blogging.
Some tips I have gleaned during the process of creating this blog are ...
1) Be honest. If you are not an expert on a topic of interest, don't pretend to be one. In the desulfurization blog, I do not represent myself as a desulfurization expert. I do, however, stress that I am an expert in finding published information on desulfurization, and I share that expertise in my posts
2) Be interesting. This is very subjective, because our interests are so diverse ... still, try to make it worthwhile for a busy colleague to visit your blog
3) Be diligent. Post something at least once a week. To do less is to be relegated to the dustbin of history.
Finally, when you create your blog, send me an email at research@JeanSteinhardtConsulting.com ... I would like to follow it.
Add value to your work as a desulfurization expert with Blogger. By posting tidbits of information that surfaces as you pursue your work, you can help keep colleagues abreast of new developments.
Some of your colleagues will be co-workers in your organization ... others will be researchers in other organizations.
Either way, you enhance your reputation as an expert with very little additional effort on your part.
To start, just go to the Google home page and look for Tools.
Another useful site for the new blogger is www.WikiHow.com ... search for "blog" and you will get several articles with useful hints on successful blogging.
Some tips I have gleaned during the process of creating this blog are ...
1) Be honest. If you are not an expert on a topic of interest, don't pretend to be one. In the desulfurization blog, I do not represent myself as a desulfurization expert. I do, however, stress that I am an expert in finding published information on desulfurization, and I share that expertise in my posts
2) Be interesting. This is very subjective, because our interests are so diverse ... still, try to make it worthwhile for a busy colleague to visit your blog
3) Be diligent. Post something at least once a week. To do less is to be relegated to the dustbin of history.
Finally, when you create your blog, send me an email at research@JeanSteinhardtConsulting.com ... I would like to follow it.
Wednesday, December 23, 2009
Bing® v. Google®
It's possible, you can never know, that the universe exists only for me. If so, it's sure going well for me, I must admit. -- Bill Gates
To Google® is to search cyberspace for information on a particular topic. Microsoft hopes to add the word “bing” to the cybersearch lexicon.
Google stands head and shoulders above every other search engine I have used to find technical information relating to desulfurization. Can Microsoft’s Bing® seriously compete with Google®?
One way to answer this question is to do a side-by-side comparison of search results on a technical term. You could open two browser windows to do this … or you could go to Bing-vs-Google (http://www.bing-vs-google.com/) and literally view the results of your search side by side.
I took this for a test drive using the search string …
Dibenzothiophene 2009
For technical cyber-research, I still prefer Googling. But Binging the competition should make research on the Internet better for all of us.
To Google® is to search cyberspace for information on a particular topic. Microsoft hopes to add the word “bing” to the cybersearch lexicon.
Google stands head and shoulders above every other search engine I have used to find technical information relating to desulfurization. Can Microsoft’s Bing® seriously compete with Google®?
One way to answer this question is to do a side-by-side comparison of search results on a technical term. You could open two browser windows to do this … or you could go to Bing-vs-Google (http://www.bing-vs-google.com/) and literally view the results of your search side by side.
I took this for a test drive using the search string …
Dibenzothiophene 2009
For technical cyber-research, I still prefer Googling. But Binging the competition should make research on the Internet better for all of us.
Thursday, December 17, 2009
Google Tools Tip: Alerts
"The Internet is the most important single development in the history of human communication since the invention of call waiting" -- Dave Barry
When you Google for desulfurization, you can save yourself some browsing time by focusing on a technical term that filters out much of the irrelevant stuff. One word I use a lot is dibenzothiophene.
Combine this technique with the Google Alerts feature, and you can save search time as well … especially if your goal is just to keep on top of developments, rather than to do a full scale literature search.
And, if your company subscribes to EbscoHost or ScienceDirect or something similar, remember to investigate the Alerts feature available through these services, as well.
Here are some recent items for your consideration.
Deep HDS of Diesel Fuel: Inhibiting Effect of Nitrogen Compounds on the Transformation of the Refractory 4,6-Dimethyldibenzothiophene Over a NiMoP/Al2O3 Catalyst
Journal Catalysis Letters
Publisher Springer Netherlands
Issue Volume 129, Numbers 1-2 / April, 2009
V. Rabarihoela-Rakotovao1, F. Diehl2 and S. Brunet1
(1) Laboratoire de Catalyse en Chimie Organique UMR CNRS 6503, Faculté des Sciences, Université de Poitiers, 40, avenue du Recteur Pineau, 86022 Poitiers Cedex, France
(2) IFP-Lyon Catalysis and Separation Division BP 3, 69360 Solaize Cedex, France
source: http://www.springerlink.com/content/8515861845g86872/
///
Hydrodesulfurization of 4,6-dimethyldibenzothiophene over high surface area metal phosphides
RUI WANG (1) ; SMITH Kevin J. (1) ;
(1) Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering. University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z3, CANADA
Applied catalysis. A, General ISSN 0926-860X
2009, vol. 361, no1-2, pp. 18-25 [8 page(s) (article)] (31 ref.)
source: http://cat.inist.fr/?aModele=afficheN&cpsidt=21563248
///
National Tsing Hua University Institutional Repository
Title: Deep hydrodesulfurization over Co/Mo catalysts supported on oxides containing vanadium
Authors: Wang CM;Tsai TC;Wang I
Date: 2009
Relation: JOURNAL OF CATALYSIS, Elsevier, Volume 262, Issue 2, MAR 10 2009, Pages 206-214
source: http://nthur.lib.nthu.edu.tw/handle/987654321/39704
///
When you Google for desulfurization, you can save yourself some browsing time by focusing on a technical term that filters out much of the irrelevant stuff. One word I use a lot is dibenzothiophene.
Combine this technique with the Google Alerts feature, and you can save search time as well … especially if your goal is just to keep on top of developments, rather than to do a full scale literature search.
And, if your company subscribes to EbscoHost or ScienceDirect or something similar, remember to investigate the Alerts feature available through these services, as well.
Here are some recent items for your consideration.
Deep HDS of Diesel Fuel: Inhibiting Effect of Nitrogen Compounds on the Transformation of the Refractory 4,6-Dimethyldibenzothiophene Over a NiMoP/Al2O3 Catalyst
Journal Catalysis Letters
Publisher Springer Netherlands
Issue Volume 129, Numbers 1-2 / April, 2009
V. Rabarihoela-Rakotovao1, F. Diehl2 and S. Brunet1
(1) Laboratoire de Catalyse en Chimie Organique UMR CNRS 6503, Faculté des Sciences, Université de Poitiers, 40, avenue du Recteur Pineau, 86022 Poitiers Cedex, France
(2) IFP-Lyon Catalysis and Separation Division BP 3, 69360 Solaize Cedex, France
source: http://www.springerlink.com/content/8515861845g86872/
///
Hydrodesulfurization of 4,6-dimethyldibenzothiophene over high surface area metal phosphides
RUI WANG (1) ; SMITH Kevin J. (1) ;
(1) Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering. University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z3, CANADA
Applied catalysis. A, General ISSN 0926-860X
2009, vol. 361, no1-2, pp. 18-25 [8 page(s) (article)] (31 ref.)
source: http://cat.inist.fr/?aModele=afficheN&cpsidt=21563248
///
National Tsing Hua University Institutional Repository
Title: Deep hydrodesulfurization over Co/Mo catalysts supported on oxides containing vanadium
Authors: Wang CM;Tsai TC;Wang I
Date: 2009
Relation: JOURNAL OF CATALYSIS, Elsevier, Volume 262, Issue 2, MAR 10 2009, Pages 206-214
source: http://nthur.lib.nthu.edu.tw/handle/987654321/39704
///
Wednesday, December 9, 2009
Expert Alert: Dr. Fuli Li, Professor, Chinese Academy of Sciences
It's a small world, but I wouldn't want to paint it. --Steven Wright (US comedian and actor)
It’s a small world, but it is home to a large number of brilliant people … here is one of them …
Dr. Fuli Li, Professor.
Chinese Academy of Sciences
Qingdao Institute of BioEnergy and Bioprocess Technology
Microbial Resources Group Leader
lifl@qibebt.ac.cn
+86-532-80662655
Interests listed for the group include …
1. Screening of microbes with potential use in bioenergy production using high throughput method
2. Identification of novel cellulase involved in biomass degradation
3. Energy microorganism resource center culture bank
According to the group’s Web page (http://english.qibebt.cas.cn/rh/rs/bc/mr/)…
Dr. Li received his Ph.D. degree in microbiology at Shandong University in 2003. From 2005 to 2007, he worked in Max Planck Institute of Terrestrial Microbiology at Marburg. In recent years, Prof. Li has been PI and coordinated over 10 projects. He and his co-workers have published more than 20 peer-reviewed papers, of which 16 are indexed by ISI web of science, and held 3 invention patents. His group mainly focuses on understanding the mechanisms of butanol fermentation, and of yeast stress tolerance.
A few of the papers he has co-authored are …
• Xu, P., Feng, J. H., B. Yu, F. L., Li, C. Q. Ma. 2008. Recent Developments to Biodesulfurization of Fossil Fuels. Advances in Biochemical Engineering/Biotechnology, (Corresponding author) (Invited review)
• Li, F. L., C. H. Hagemeier, H. Seedor, G. Gottschalk, and R. K. Thauer. 2007. Re-citrate synthase from Clostridium kluyveri is phylogenetically related to homocitrate synthase and isopropylmalate synthase rather than to Si-citrate synthase. J. Bacteriol. 189:4299-4304.
• Li, F. L., Z. Zhang, J. Feng, X. Cai, and P. Xu. 2007. Biodesulfurization of DBT in tetradecane and crude oil by a facultative thermophilic bacterium Mycobacterium goodii X7B. J. Biotechnol. 127:222-8.
• Xu, P., B. Yu, F. L. Li, X. F. Cai, and C. Q. Ma. 2006. Microbial degradation of sulfur, nitrogen and oxygen heterocycles. Trends in Microbiology 14:398-405.
Nothing beats reading the full text of an article to get a sense of an expert’s ability. To view the full text of “Microbial Desulfurization of Gasoline in a Mycobacterium goodii X7B Immobilized-Cell System”, one of Dr. Li’s papers, visit http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC544250/
It is a small world in a sense, but the world of information is expanding at a staggering pace. Your corporate librarian can help you navigate that world. Or you can use the services of an Independent Information Professional. Send your questions to us at research@JeanSteinhardtConsulting.com
It’s a small world, but it is home to a large number of brilliant people … here is one of them …
Dr. Fuli Li, Professor.
Chinese Academy of Sciences
Qingdao Institute of BioEnergy and Bioprocess Technology
Microbial Resources Group Leader
lifl@qibebt.ac.cn
+86-532-80662655
Interests listed for the group include …
1. Screening of microbes with potential use in bioenergy production using high throughput method
2. Identification of novel cellulase involved in biomass degradation
3. Energy microorganism resource center culture bank
According to the group’s Web page (http://english.qibebt.cas.cn/rh/rs/bc/mr/)…
Dr. Li received his Ph.D. degree in microbiology at Shandong University in 2003. From 2005 to 2007, he worked in Max Planck Institute of Terrestrial Microbiology at Marburg. In recent years, Prof. Li has been PI and coordinated over 10 projects. He and his co-workers have published more than 20 peer-reviewed papers, of which 16 are indexed by ISI web of science, and held 3 invention patents. His group mainly focuses on understanding the mechanisms of butanol fermentation, and of yeast stress tolerance.
A few of the papers he has co-authored are …
• Xu, P., Feng, J. H., B. Yu, F. L., Li, C. Q. Ma. 2008. Recent Developments to Biodesulfurization of Fossil Fuels. Advances in Biochemical Engineering/Biotechnology, (Corresponding author) (Invited review)
• Li, F. L., C. H. Hagemeier, H. Seedor, G. Gottschalk, and R. K. Thauer. 2007. Re-citrate synthase from Clostridium kluyveri is phylogenetically related to homocitrate synthase and isopropylmalate synthase rather than to Si-citrate synthase. J. Bacteriol. 189:4299-4304.
• Li, F. L., Z. Zhang, J. Feng, X. Cai, and P. Xu. 2007. Biodesulfurization of DBT in tetradecane and crude oil by a facultative thermophilic bacterium Mycobacterium goodii X7B. J. Biotechnol. 127:222-8.
• Xu, P., B. Yu, F. L. Li, X. F. Cai, and C. Q. Ma. 2006. Microbial degradation of sulfur, nitrogen and oxygen heterocycles. Trends in Microbiology 14:398-405.
Nothing beats reading the full text of an article to get a sense of an expert’s ability. To view the full text of “Microbial Desulfurization of Gasoline in a Mycobacterium goodii X7B Immobilized-Cell System”, one of Dr. Li’s papers, visit http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC544250/
It is a small world in a sense, but the world of information is expanding at a staggering pace. Your corporate librarian can help you navigate that world. Or you can use the services of an Independent Information Professional. Send your questions to us at research@JeanSteinhardtConsulting.com
Friday, December 4, 2009
Helping your management team do its job
“So much of what we call management consists in making it difficult for people to work” -- Peter F. Drucker
Searching for the information you need to support your research can be time consuming. Take for example the following search sequence ...
Google® search:
sulphur-resistant noble metal hydrotreating catalyst
The Google® topical search resulted in a link to the following, which I found fascinating ...
Title Refinery Integration of By-Products from Coal-Derived Jet Fuels
Creator/Author Caroline Clifford ; Andre Boehman ; Chunshan Song ; Bruce Miller ; Gareth Mitchell
Publication Date 2008 Mar 31
OSTI Identifier OSTI ID: 940167
DOE Contract Number FC26-03NT41828
DOI 10.2172/940167
Other Number(s) TRN: US200823%%766
Resource Type Technical Report
Coverage Final
Research Org Pennsylvania State University
Sponsoring Org USDOE
Subject 02 PETROLEUM; 33 ADVANCED PROPULSION SYSTEMS; 01 COAL, LIGNITE, AND PEAT; ANTIKNOCK RATINGS; BY-PRODUCTS; CATALYSTS; COAL; COKE; COKING; COMBUSTION; DIESEL FUELS; FRACTIONATION; FUEL OILS; GASOLINE; LIQUID FUELS; PERFORMANCE; PETROLEUM DISTILLATES; PRODUCTION; RESIDUAL FUELS; SOLVENT EXTRACTION; SULFUR; TRACE AMOUNTS
Description/Abstract The final report summarizes the accomplishments toward project goals during length of the project. The goal of this project was to integrate coal into a refinery in order to produce coal-based jet fuel, with the major goal to examine the products other than jet fuel. These products are in the gasoline, diesel and fuel oil range and result from coal-based jet fuel production from an Air Force funded program. The main goal of Task 1 was the production of coal-based jet fuel and other products that would need to be utilized in other fuels or for non-fuel sources, using known refining technology. The gasoline, diesel fuel, and fuel oil were tested in other aspects of the project. Light cycle oil (LCO) and refined chemical oil (RCO) were blended, hydrotreated to removed sulfur, and hydrogenated, then fractionated in the original production of jet fuel. Two main approaches, taken during the project period, varied where the fractionation took place, in order to preserve the life of catalysts used, which includes (1) fractionation of the hydrotreated blend to remove sulfur and nitrogen, followed by a hydrogenation step of the lighter fraction, and (2) fractionation of the LCO and RCO before any hydrotreatment. Task 2 involved assessment of the impact of refinery integration of JP-900 production on gasoline and diesel fuel. Fuel properties, ignition characteristics and engine combustion of model fuels and fuel samples from pilot-scale production runs were characterized. The model fuels used to represent the coal-based fuel streams were blended into full-boiling range fuels to simulate the mixing of fuel streams within the refinery to create potential 'finished' fuels. The representative compounds of the coal-based gasoline were cyclohexane and methyl cyclohexane, and for the coal-base diesel fuel they were fluorine and phenanthrene. Both the octane number (ON) of the coal-based gasoline and the cetane number (CN) of the coal-based diesel were low, relative to commercial fuels ({approx}60 ON for coal-based gasoline and {approx}20 CN for coal-based diesel fuel). Therefore, the allowable range of blending levels was studied where the blend would achieve acceptable performance. However, in both cases of the coal-based fuels, their ignition characteristics may make them ideal fuels for advanced combustion strategies where lower ON and CN are desirable. Task 3 was designed to develop new approaches for producing ultra clean fuels and value-added chemicals from refinery streams involving coal as a part of the feedstock. It consisted of the following three parts: (1) desulfurization and denitrogenation which involves both new adsorption approach for selective removal of nitrogen and sulfur and new catalysts for more effective hydrotreating and the combination of adsorption denitrogenation with hydrodesulfurization; (2) saturation of two-ring aromatics that included new design of sulfur resistant noble-metal catalysts for hydrogenation of naphthalene and tetralin in middle distillate fuels, and (3) value-added chemicals from naphthalene and biphenyl, which aimed at developing value-added organic chemicals from refinery streams such as 2,6-dimethylnaphthalene and 4,4{prime}-dimethylbiphenyl as precursors to advanced polymer materials. Major advances were achieved in this project in designing the catalysts and sorbent materials, and in developing fundamental understanding. The objective of Task 4 was to evaluate the effect of introducing coal into an existing petroleum refinery on the fuel oil product, specifically trace element emissions. Activities performed to accomplish this objective included analyzing two petroleum-based commercial heavy fuel oils (i.e., No. 6 fuel oils) as baseline fuels and three co-processed fuel oils, characterizing the atomization performance of a No. 6 fuel oil, measuring the combustion performance and emissions of the five fuels, specifically major, minor, and trace elements when fired in a watertube boiler designed for natural gas/fuel oil, and determining the boiler performance when firing the five fuels. Two different co-processed fuel oils were tested: one that had been partially hydrotreated, and the other a product of fractionation before hydrotreating. Task 5 focused on examining refining methods that would utilize coal and produce thermally stable jet fuel, included delayed coking and solvent extraction. Delayed coking was done on blends of decant oil and coal, with the goal to produce a premium carbon product and liquid fuels. Coking was done on bench scale and large laboratory scale cokers. Two coals were examined for co-coking, using Pittsburgh seam coal and Marfork coal product. Reactions in the large, laboratory scaled coker were reproducible in yields of products and in quality of products. While the co-coke produced from both coals was of sponge coke quality, minerals left in the coke made it unacceptable for use as anode or graphite grade filler.
Country of Publication United States
Language English
Format Medium: ED
System Entry Date 2008 Dec 11
source: http://www.osti.gov/bridge/product.biblio.jsp?osti_id=940167
A follow-up Google® search on the title of the above ...
"Refinery Integration of By-Products from Coal-Derived Jet Fuels"
... resulted in a link to ...
Parvana Gafarova-Aksoy - LinkedIn Profile: http://www.linkedin.com/pub/parvana-gafarova-aksoy/11/862/44b. Interestingly, although Parvana Gafarova-Aksoy was involved in the research described above, he (or she) is not listed as an author. But we found this expert anyway, thanks to the presence of a profile on LinkedIn.
[Excerpt from Parvana Gafarova-Aksoy's profile]
Parvana Gafarova-Aksoy’s Summary
• Extensive experience in scientific research: My work over the past ten years has built on conversion of coal to liquid fuels and value added products. I worked on catalytic coal liquefaction on medium and low rank coals. I did an extensive work on producing of jet fuel from coal and increasing of thermal stability of jet fuels. I was also an investigator on industrial projects to make coal/petroleum based carbons - particularly activated carbons and cokes through delayed coking. I have extensive experience on analyzing carbon samples by various instruments. The projects I was working on was funded by Department of Energy, as well as by private companies: such as Caterpillar, CIIRain, Minus 100.
• Proven record in problem solving: As a primary investigator in several projects, I was responsible for project management including budget tracking, report preparation, oral progress reports to sponsors. I was also responsible for providing technical support and assistance to students and technical personnel.
• Solid record of scholarly contributions: I have over twenty publications and presentations.
Some of my completed projects:
1) Activation of Small Particle Size Anthracite Samples
2) Calcination of Petroleum Coke Samples
3) Desulfurization of Petroleum Cokes
4) Activation of Poultry Litter Sample
5) Development of a CO2 Sequestration Module by Integrating Mineral Activation and Aqueous Carbonation
6) Evaluation of pitch and coke materials from coal-based fuel production
7) Removal of SO2 and NOx Over Coal-Petroleum Based Activated Carbons,
8) Thermal Stability of Jet Fuels
As you can see, and as you no doubt know from your own experience, this kind of iterative searching can really cut into the time you need for other work. If you're lucky, your management team has the wisdom to employ an information professional (such as a corporate librarian) to help. If so, be sure to make use of this valuable resource.
Many management teams, however, have chosen to eliminate the corporate library in an effort to "trim the fat." The short term benefit of such a crash diet is outweighed by the fact that some of your valuable time now has to be used to pick up the slack.
You see the value of having a librarian on staff, but how do you persuade management?
We can help. Send a request for free tips on how to persuade management to employ an information professional to research@JeanSteinhardtConsulting.com. Your request will be held in strictest confidence.
Searching for the information you need to support your research can be time consuming. Take for example the following search sequence ...
Google® search:
sulphur-resistant noble metal hydrotreating catalyst
The Google® topical search resulted in a link to the following, which I found fascinating ...
Title Refinery Integration of By-Products from Coal-Derived Jet Fuels
Creator/Author Caroline Clifford ; Andre Boehman ; Chunshan Song ; Bruce Miller ; Gareth Mitchell
Publication Date 2008 Mar 31
OSTI Identifier OSTI ID: 940167
DOE Contract Number FC26-03NT41828
DOI 10.2172/940167
Other Number(s) TRN: US200823%%766
Resource Type Technical Report
Coverage Final
Research Org Pennsylvania State University
Sponsoring Org USDOE
Subject 02 PETROLEUM; 33 ADVANCED PROPULSION SYSTEMS; 01 COAL, LIGNITE, AND PEAT; ANTIKNOCK RATINGS; BY-PRODUCTS; CATALYSTS; COAL; COKE; COKING; COMBUSTION; DIESEL FUELS; FRACTIONATION; FUEL OILS; GASOLINE; LIQUID FUELS; PERFORMANCE; PETROLEUM DISTILLATES; PRODUCTION; RESIDUAL FUELS; SOLVENT EXTRACTION; SULFUR; TRACE AMOUNTS
Description/Abstract The final report summarizes the accomplishments toward project goals during length of the project. The goal of this project was to integrate coal into a refinery in order to produce coal-based jet fuel, with the major goal to examine the products other than jet fuel. These products are in the gasoline, diesel and fuel oil range and result from coal-based jet fuel production from an Air Force funded program. The main goal of Task 1 was the production of coal-based jet fuel and other products that would need to be utilized in other fuels or for non-fuel sources, using known refining technology. The gasoline, diesel fuel, and fuel oil were tested in other aspects of the project. Light cycle oil (LCO) and refined chemical oil (RCO) were blended, hydrotreated to removed sulfur, and hydrogenated, then fractionated in the original production of jet fuel. Two main approaches, taken during the project period, varied where the fractionation took place, in order to preserve the life of catalysts used, which includes (1) fractionation of the hydrotreated blend to remove sulfur and nitrogen, followed by a hydrogenation step of the lighter fraction, and (2) fractionation of the LCO and RCO before any hydrotreatment. Task 2 involved assessment of the impact of refinery integration of JP-900 production on gasoline and diesel fuel. Fuel properties, ignition characteristics and engine combustion of model fuels and fuel samples from pilot-scale production runs were characterized. The model fuels used to represent the coal-based fuel streams were blended into full-boiling range fuels to simulate the mixing of fuel streams within the refinery to create potential 'finished' fuels. The representative compounds of the coal-based gasoline were cyclohexane and methyl cyclohexane, and for the coal-base diesel fuel they were fluorine and phenanthrene. Both the octane number (ON) of the coal-based gasoline and the cetane number (CN) of the coal-based diesel were low, relative to commercial fuels ({approx}60 ON for coal-based gasoline and {approx}20 CN for coal-based diesel fuel). Therefore, the allowable range of blending levels was studied where the blend would achieve acceptable performance. However, in both cases of the coal-based fuels, their ignition characteristics may make them ideal fuels for advanced combustion strategies where lower ON and CN are desirable. Task 3 was designed to develop new approaches for producing ultra clean fuels and value-added chemicals from refinery streams involving coal as a part of the feedstock. It consisted of the following three parts: (1) desulfurization and denitrogenation which involves both new adsorption approach for selective removal of nitrogen and sulfur and new catalysts for more effective hydrotreating and the combination of adsorption denitrogenation with hydrodesulfurization; (2) saturation of two-ring aromatics that included new design of sulfur resistant noble-metal catalysts for hydrogenation of naphthalene and tetralin in middle distillate fuels, and (3) value-added chemicals from naphthalene and biphenyl, which aimed at developing value-added organic chemicals from refinery streams such as 2,6-dimethylnaphthalene and 4,4{prime}-dimethylbiphenyl as precursors to advanced polymer materials. Major advances were achieved in this project in designing the catalysts and sorbent materials, and in developing fundamental understanding. The objective of Task 4 was to evaluate the effect of introducing coal into an existing petroleum refinery on the fuel oil product, specifically trace element emissions. Activities performed to accomplish this objective included analyzing two petroleum-based commercial heavy fuel oils (i.e., No. 6 fuel oils) as baseline fuels and three co-processed fuel oils, characterizing the atomization performance of a No. 6 fuel oil, measuring the combustion performance and emissions of the five fuels, specifically major, minor, and trace elements when fired in a watertube boiler designed for natural gas/fuel oil, and determining the boiler performance when firing the five fuels. Two different co-processed fuel oils were tested: one that had been partially hydrotreated, and the other a product of fractionation before hydrotreating. Task 5 focused on examining refining methods that would utilize coal and produce thermally stable jet fuel, included delayed coking and solvent extraction. Delayed coking was done on blends of decant oil and coal, with the goal to produce a premium carbon product and liquid fuels. Coking was done on bench scale and large laboratory scale cokers. Two coals were examined for co-coking, using Pittsburgh seam coal and Marfork coal product. Reactions in the large, laboratory scaled coker were reproducible in yields of products and in quality of products. While the co-coke produced from both coals was of sponge coke quality, minerals left in the coke made it unacceptable for use as anode or graphite grade filler.
Country of Publication United States
Language English
Format Medium: ED
System Entry Date 2008 Dec 11
source: http://www.osti.gov/bridge/product.biblio.jsp?osti_id=940167
A follow-up Google® search on the title of the above ...
"Refinery Integration of By-Products from Coal-Derived Jet Fuels"
... resulted in a link to ...
Parvana Gafarova-Aksoy - LinkedIn Profile: http://www.linkedin.com/pub/parvana-gafarova-aksoy/11/862/44b. Interestingly, although Parvana Gafarova-Aksoy was involved in the research described above, he (or she) is not listed as an author. But we found this expert anyway, thanks to the presence of a profile on LinkedIn.
[Excerpt from Parvana Gafarova-Aksoy's profile]
Parvana Gafarova-Aksoy’s Summary
• Extensive experience in scientific research: My work over the past ten years has built on conversion of coal to liquid fuels and value added products. I worked on catalytic coal liquefaction on medium and low rank coals. I did an extensive work on producing of jet fuel from coal and increasing of thermal stability of jet fuels. I was also an investigator on industrial projects to make coal/petroleum based carbons - particularly activated carbons and cokes through delayed coking. I have extensive experience on analyzing carbon samples by various instruments. The projects I was working on was funded by Department of Energy, as well as by private companies: such as Caterpillar, CIIRain, Minus 100.
• Proven record in problem solving: As a primary investigator in several projects, I was responsible for project management including budget tracking, report preparation, oral progress reports to sponsors. I was also responsible for providing technical support and assistance to students and technical personnel.
• Solid record of scholarly contributions: I have over twenty publications and presentations.
Some of my completed projects:
1) Activation of Small Particle Size Anthracite Samples
2) Calcination of Petroleum Coke Samples
3) Desulfurization of Petroleum Cokes
4) Activation of Poultry Litter Sample
5) Development of a CO2 Sequestration Module by Integrating Mineral Activation and Aqueous Carbonation
6) Evaluation of pitch and coke materials from coal-based fuel production
7) Removal of SO2 and NOx Over Coal-Petroleum Based Activated Carbons,
8) Thermal Stability of Jet Fuels
As you can see, and as you no doubt know from your own experience, this kind of iterative searching can really cut into the time you need for other work. If you're lucky, your management team has the wisdom to employ an information professional (such as a corporate librarian) to help. If so, be sure to make use of this valuable resource.
Many management teams, however, have chosen to eliminate the corporate library in an effort to "trim the fat." The short term benefit of such a crash diet is outweighed by the fact that some of your valuable time now has to be used to pick up the slack.
You see the value of having a librarian on staff, but how do you persuade management?
We can help. Send a request for free tips on how to persuade management to employ an information professional to research@JeanSteinhardtConsulting.com. Your request will be held in strictest confidence.
Thursday, November 26, 2009
WikiHow
“Except in mathematics, the shortest distance between point A and point B is seldom a straight line” -- Anonymous
To do good research, you need to connect to your fellow researchers. You won’t find anything about desulfurization per sé on WikiHow, but you will find tips on how to connect with and keep in touch with desulfurization colleagues.
For example, if you search WikiHow (www.WikiHow.com) using the term “LinkedIn” you will find several tips on how to improve your networking skills.
But first … this might be a good time to say something about the process of finding information on the Web. While there may be a few questions that you can answer with a simple Google query, most of the really useful information requires a more iterative approach. Connecting with desulfurization colleagues is a good example of the iteration approach.
Let’s say you have searched a site like AllConferences.com (www.AllConferences.com) or something similar to identify a conference you feel would help you advance your research. And let’s say that the conference you have identified is Pacifichem 2010 (http://www.pacifichem.org/). And let’s say, further, that you have identified a specific presenter at the Pacifichem conference … let’s say, Chunshan Song … that you would like to network with.
Design of Zeolite Catalyts for Clean Synthesis of Chemicals (#178)
Takashi Tatsumi Chunshan Song Sang-Eon Park
Now let’s say that you are not that comfortable with the whole networking thing. So you go to a site like WikiHow to get some tips on how to network at conferences. For example, a WikiHow search using the term “LinkedIn” results in the following hit …
How to Network at a Conference [Excerpt]
Look up the people who will be presenting at the conference. They are influencers who can help you get better networked into your targeted industry. Take the time to visit these presenters websites. They should also all have email addresses on their websites--even top executives may have emails. But, if they don't try to find them on sites like LinkedIn (www.linkedin.com).
Tell these influencers you look forward to hearing their talks. You are growing a relationship when you recognize someone for the valuable expertise they will be sharing at a conference. These presenters will appreciate you taking the time and you will gain relationship equity with them. They will, most likely, email you back and thank you. Now you can re-email them and let them know you will make sure you introduce yourself, in person, when you see them at the event.
Go up and introduce yourself at the event. Go to the presenters' talks you have emailed. Go early and sit in the front row. After their presentation take up a business card with a personalized note you have written on the back telling them how much you appreciated their insights. This will build even more relationship equity. You can also ask to follow up with a quick phone call with a question you may have about their presentation. Now you are at the point where you have really created a connection and, more likely than not, laid the groundwork for a long-term connection with whom you can develop all kinds of new business or career opportunities.
source: http://www.wikihow.com/Network-at-a-Conference
Following the WikiHow advice, you Google® Chunshan Song and find …
Activities
Chair, Division of Fuel Chemistry, American Chemical Society, 2008.
Judge, ConocoPhillips Energy Prize (national energy award program), 2008.
Scientific Advisory Board, NSF Engineering Research Center for Environmentally Beneficial Catalysis, University of Kansas/ University of Iowa/Washington University at St Louis/ Prairie View A&M University, 2008-present.
Decision Review Board, Chevron-Penn State Alliance on Coal Conversion Technology, 2008.
Advisor, Technical Advisory Council, Research & Development Center, Saudi Aramco, Saudi Arabia, 2007-present.
Chair-Elect, Division of Fuel Chemistry, American Chemical Society, 2007.
International Advisory Board Member for 2007 International Conference on Coal Science and Technology Nottingham, UK, 2006-2007.
Chair, Advisory Board for International Pittsburgh Coal Conference, 2005-2006.
Treasurer, 19th North American Catalysis Society Biennial Meeting, Philadelphia, PA, USA, May 22-28, 2005.
Member, Long-Range Planning Committee, American Chemical Society Division of Petroleum Chemistry, 2005-2007.
Chair, Division of Petroleum Chemistry, American Chemical Society, 2004.
Award Committee, 21st International Pittsburgh Coal Conference, Osaka, Japan, Sept 12-17, 2004.
Program Chair, American Chemical Society Division of Fuel Chemistry, 2003.
Co-chair, Advisory Board for International Pittsburgh Coal Conference, 2003-2004.
Chair-Elect, American Chemical Society Division of Petroleum Chemistry, 2003.
International Scientific Committee, International Conference on Carbon Dioxide Utilization, 2003-present.
Member, Scientific Committee, 18th North American Catalysis Society Meeting, Cancun, Mexico, June 1-6, 2003.
One of the articles he has co-authored is …
A Nanoporous Polymeric Sorbent for Deep Removal of H2S from Gas Mixtures for Hydrogen Purification
source: http://www.eme.psu.edu/faculty/song.html
Googling® the article you find an abstract …
A nanoporous polymeric sorbent for deep removal of H2S from gas mixtures for hydrogen purification
Author(s):
Xiaoxing Wang Clean Fuels and Catalysis Program, The Energy Institute andDepartment of Energy and Geo-Environmenta
Xiaoliang Ma
Sun Lu
Abstract: A nanoporous composite sorbent (PEI/SBA-15) was developed by the wet impregnation loading of a linear polyethyleneimine (PEI) on a mesoporous molecular sieve SBA-15, which was prepared by hydrothermal synthesis. The sorbent was characterized by XRD at low angles, N_2 physisorption, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and FT-IR. The sorption performance of the sorbent for removing H2S from H_2-containing gas mixtures was evaluated in a flow system. The characterization results showed that after PEI loading, PEI was dispersed inside the meso-channels of SBA-15 with almost no change of the SBA-15 structure, and the interaction of amine groups in PEI with the functional groups on the SBA-15 surface may anchor PEI on the inner surface of SBA-15. The effects of the inlet H2S concentration and co-existing moisture on the sorption performance were examined. With increasing inlet H2S concentration, both the breakthrough capacity and the saturation capacity increased. The sorption of H2S on the PEI/SBA-15 sorbent can be expressed by the Langmuir adsorption isotherm. A higher sorption capacity was observed in the presence of moisture, indicating that moisture has a promoting effect on the sorption removal of H2S from gas streams on the PEI/SBA-15 sorbent. However, the desorption rate of the sorbed H2S was also reduced in the presence of moisture. The sorption/ desorption cycles showed that the PEI/SBA-15 sorbent had a good regenerability and stable sorption performance.
Source: Green Chemistry , 2007, 9 (6) : 695-702
source: http://citation.nstl.gov.cn/detail.jsp?internal_id=617839
With this kind of information, you would be well prepared to follow the tips in the WikiHow article.
One final tip … this hypothetical exercise demonstrates the time consuming process of chasing down the information you need to do your work. You can do it yourself, or you can save valuable time by enlisting the service of your friendly corporate librarian. If confidentiality is a concern … no worries … confidentiality is a part of the librarian’s professional code.
Send your confidential request for a free search strategy to unearth the information you need to … Research@JeanSteinhardtConsulting.com
To do good research, you need to connect to your fellow researchers. You won’t find anything about desulfurization per sé on WikiHow, but you will find tips on how to connect with and keep in touch with desulfurization colleagues.
For example, if you search WikiHow (www.WikiHow.com) using the term “LinkedIn” you will find several tips on how to improve your networking skills.
But first … this might be a good time to say something about the process of finding information on the Web. While there may be a few questions that you can answer with a simple Google query, most of the really useful information requires a more iterative approach. Connecting with desulfurization colleagues is a good example of the iteration approach.
Let’s say you have searched a site like AllConferences.com (www.AllConferences.com) or something similar to identify a conference you feel would help you advance your research. And let’s say that the conference you have identified is Pacifichem 2010 (http://www.pacifichem.org/). And let’s say, further, that you have identified a specific presenter at the Pacifichem conference … let’s say, Chunshan Song … that you would like to network with.
Design of Zeolite Catalyts for Clean Synthesis of Chemicals (#178)
Takashi Tatsumi Chunshan Song Sang-Eon Park
Now let’s say that you are not that comfortable with the whole networking thing. So you go to a site like WikiHow to get some tips on how to network at conferences. For example, a WikiHow search using the term “LinkedIn” results in the following hit …
How to Network at a Conference [Excerpt]
Look up the people who will be presenting at the conference. They are influencers who can help you get better networked into your targeted industry. Take the time to visit these presenters websites. They should also all have email addresses on their websites--even top executives may have emails. But, if they don't try to find them on sites like LinkedIn (www.linkedin.com).
Tell these influencers you look forward to hearing their talks. You are growing a relationship when you recognize someone for the valuable expertise they will be sharing at a conference. These presenters will appreciate you taking the time and you will gain relationship equity with them. They will, most likely, email you back and thank you. Now you can re-email them and let them know you will make sure you introduce yourself, in person, when you see them at the event.
Go up and introduce yourself at the event. Go to the presenters' talks you have emailed. Go early and sit in the front row. After their presentation take up a business card with a personalized note you have written on the back telling them how much you appreciated their insights. This will build even more relationship equity. You can also ask to follow up with a quick phone call with a question you may have about their presentation. Now you are at the point where you have really created a connection and, more likely than not, laid the groundwork for a long-term connection with whom you can develop all kinds of new business or career opportunities.
source: http://www.wikihow.com/Network-at-a-Conference
Following the WikiHow advice, you Google® Chunshan Song and find …
Activities
Chair, Division of Fuel Chemistry, American Chemical Society, 2008.
Judge, ConocoPhillips Energy Prize (national energy award program), 2008.
Scientific Advisory Board, NSF Engineering Research Center for Environmentally Beneficial Catalysis, University of Kansas/ University of Iowa/Washington University at St Louis/ Prairie View A&M University, 2008-present.
Decision Review Board, Chevron-Penn State Alliance on Coal Conversion Technology, 2008.
Advisor, Technical Advisory Council, Research & Development Center, Saudi Aramco, Saudi Arabia, 2007-present.
Chair-Elect, Division of Fuel Chemistry, American Chemical Society, 2007.
International Advisory Board Member for 2007 International Conference on Coal Science and Technology Nottingham, UK, 2006-2007.
Chair, Advisory Board for International Pittsburgh Coal Conference, 2005-2006.
Treasurer, 19th North American Catalysis Society Biennial Meeting, Philadelphia, PA, USA, May 22-28, 2005.
Member, Long-Range Planning Committee, American Chemical Society Division of Petroleum Chemistry, 2005-2007.
Chair, Division of Petroleum Chemistry, American Chemical Society, 2004.
Award Committee, 21st International Pittsburgh Coal Conference, Osaka, Japan, Sept 12-17, 2004.
Program Chair, American Chemical Society Division of Fuel Chemistry, 2003.
Co-chair, Advisory Board for International Pittsburgh Coal Conference, 2003-2004.
Chair-Elect, American Chemical Society Division of Petroleum Chemistry, 2003.
International Scientific Committee, International Conference on Carbon Dioxide Utilization, 2003-present.
Member, Scientific Committee, 18th North American Catalysis Society Meeting, Cancun, Mexico, June 1-6, 2003.
One of the articles he has co-authored is …
A Nanoporous Polymeric Sorbent for Deep Removal of H2S from Gas Mixtures for Hydrogen Purification
source: http://www.eme.psu.edu/faculty/song.html
Googling® the article you find an abstract …
A nanoporous polymeric sorbent for deep removal of H2S from gas mixtures for hydrogen purification
Author(s):
Xiaoxing Wang Clean Fuels and Catalysis Program, The Energy Institute andDepartment of Energy and Geo-Environmenta
Xiaoliang Ma
Sun Lu
Abstract: A nanoporous composite sorbent (PEI/SBA-15) was developed by the wet impregnation loading of a linear polyethyleneimine (PEI) on a mesoporous molecular sieve SBA-15, which was prepared by hydrothermal synthesis. The sorbent was characterized by XRD at low angles, N_2 physisorption, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and FT-IR. The sorption performance of the sorbent for removing H2S from H_2-containing gas mixtures was evaluated in a flow system. The characterization results showed that after PEI loading, PEI was dispersed inside the meso-channels of SBA-15 with almost no change of the SBA-15 structure, and the interaction of amine groups in PEI with the functional groups on the SBA-15 surface may anchor PEI on the inner surface of SBA-15. The effects of the inlet H2S concentration and co-existing moisture on the sorption performance were examined. With increasing inlet H2S concentration, both the breakthrough capacity and the saturation capacity increased. The sorption of H2S on the PEI/SBA-15 sorbent can be expressed by the Langmuir adsorption isotherm. A higher sorption capacity was observed in the presence of moisture, indicating that moisture has a promoting effect on the sorption removal of H2S from gas streams on the PEI/SBA-15 sorbent. However, the desorption rate of the sorbed H2S was also reduced in the presence of moisture. The sorption/ desorption cycles showed that the PEI/SBA-15 sorbent had a good regenerability and stable sorption performance.
Source: Green Chemistry , 2007, 9 (6) : 695-702
source: http://citation.nstl.gov.cn/detail.jsp?internal_id=617839
With this kind of information, you would be well prepared to follow the tips in the WikiHow article.
One final tip … this hypothetical exercise demonstrates the time consuming process of chasing down the information you need to do your work. You can do it yourself, or you can save valuable time by enlisting the service of your friendly corporate librarian. If confidentiality is a concern … no worries … confidentiality is a part of the librarian’s professional code.
Send your confidential request for a free search strategy to unearth the information you need to … Research@JeanSteinhardtConsulting.com
Wednesday, November 18, 2009
Hands on desulfurization resource
"As a general rule, the most successful man in life is the man who has the best information." -- Benjamin Disraeli
“Information is not knowledge.” -- Albert Einstein
A problem with any refining technology, including desulfurization technology, is getting it to work in a particular situation. When you run into a hands-on puzzle, it may be time to turn to colleagues who may have found a solution to your puzzle. Refining Online (www.refiningonline.com) provides a Q&A forum that helps you do just that. Registration is free. Here, as an example, is a recent exchange …
From the Refining Online Q&A Forum
Question No.: 5135 Category : Refining
Date Posted: 11/10/2009
Subject: Desalter
Question:
How step down of transformer will help us during water shot in desalter?
///
Response 5135-1
Date : 11/11/2009
When you are processing high conductivity crudes, the current in the desalter will rise sharply & will near its trip point. During this time the voltage in the desalter will drop to nearly zero. As we know as per stokes law, a particular potential difference (voltage) has to be maintained for settling of water droplets. Hence we step down the transformer so that at least a small potential will be maintained across the water droplets for settling and step down of transformer also helps in avoiding tripping of the desalter due to high current.
Following the ROL Blog might also be useful. Here is a ROL Blog excerpt …
How FCC Feed Hydrotreating Affects FCC Yields And Economics
September 1, 2007 • 1 Comment
The following paragraphs show an example of the effects of hydrotreating ANS VGO on a typical FCC operation. The focus of the discussion is to compare FCC feed hydrotreating with FCC product treating as competing options for making low sulfur gasoline and diesel fuels.
Table 1 presents the properties of virgin ANS VGO and compares them with the properties of the VGO after severe hydrotreating (95% desulfurization). Hydrotreating increases the API gravity of the VGO by about 5.5 numbers, increases the aniline point by 10°F, lowers the nitrogen level by about 50% and lowers the VABP by 24°F. The VABP reduction is the result of a small amount of hydrocracking that occurs in the hydrotreater.
Source: http://rolblog.wordpress.com/category/refining-operations/
Wondering how to research your technology topic? Send your question to research@JeanSteinhardtConsulting.com . We will reply with free advice on how structure your query. All questions are treated with strictest confidentiality.
“Information is not knowledge.” -- Albert Einstein
A problem with any refining technology, including desulfurization technology, is getting it to work in a particular situation. When you run into a hands-on puzzle, it may be time to turn to colleagues who may have found a solution to your puzzle. Refining Online (www.refiningonline.com) provides a Q&A forum that helps you do just that. Registration is free. Here, as an example, is a recent exchange …
From the Refining Online Q&A Forum
Question No.: 5135 Category : Refining
Date Posted: 11/10/2009
Subject: Desalter
Question:
How step down of transformer will help us during water shot in desalter?
///
Response 5135-1
Date : 11/11/2009
When you are processing high conductivity crudes, the current in the desalter will rise sharply & will near its trip point. During this time the voltage in the desalter will drop to nearly zero. As we know as per stokes law, a particular potential difference (voltage) has to be maintained for settling of water droplets. Hence we step down the transformer so that at least a small potential will be maintained across the water droplets for settling and step down of transformer also helps in avoiding tripping of the desalter due to high current.
Following the ROL Blog might also be useful. Here is a ROL Blog excerpt …
How FCC Feed Hydrotreating Affects FCC Yields And Economics
September 1, 2007 • 1 Comment
The following paragraphs show an example of the effects of hydrotreating ANS VGO on a typical FCC operation. The focus of the discussion is to compare FCC feed hydrotreating with FCC product treating as competing options for making low sulfur gasoline and diesel fuels.
Table 1 presents the properties of virgin ANS VGO and compares them with the properties of the VGO after severe hydrotreating (95% desulfurization). Hydrotreating increases the API gravity of the VGO by about 5.5 numbers, increases the aniline point by 10°F, lowers the nitrogen level by about 50% and lowers the VABP by 24°F. The VABP reduction is the result of a small amount of hydrocracking that occurs in the hydrotreater.
Source: http://rolblog.wordpress.com/category/refining-operations/
Wondering how to research your technology topic? Send your question to research@JeanSteinhardtConsulting.com . We will reply with free advice on how structure your query. All questions are treated with strictest confidentiality.
Monday, November 16, 2009
AllConferences.com
"Conferences at the top level are always courteous. Name-calling is left to the foreign ministers." -- W. Averell Harriman
You probably keep up with conferences through the professional associations you belong to, but for a change of pace you might want to take an occasional look at a site like AllConferences.com (www.AllConferences.com). Here are three listings from that site that might be of interest to someone in the desulfurization arena …
Introduction to the Canadian Oil Sands - PEICE
Begins January 19, 2010
City Calgary
Country Canada
///
Leapfrogging Opportunities for Air Quality Improvement
Begins May 10, 2010
City Xian
Country China
///
10th International Conference on Clean Energy
Begins September 15, 2010
City Famagusta
Country Cyprus
For one thing, it can bring you the peace of mind that comes from knowing you are not missing anything important.
Your comments are always welcome. If you have a question you would like to keep confidential, send me an email at: research@JeanSteinhardtConsulting.com
You probably keep up with conferences through the professional associations you belong to, but for a change of pace you might want to take an occasional look at a site like AllConferences.com (www.AllConferences.com). Here are three listings from that site that might be of interest to someone in the desulfurization arena …
Introduction to the Canadian Oil Sands - PEICE
Begins January 19, 2010
City Calgary
Country Canada
///
Leapfrogging Opportunities for Air Quality Improvement
Begins May 10, 2010
City Xian
Country China
///
10th International Conference on Clean Energy
Begins September 15, 2010
City Famagusta
Country Cyprus
For one thing, it can bring you the peace of mind that comes from knowing you are not missing anything important.
Your comments are always welcome. If you have a question you would like to keep confidential, send me an email at: research@JeanSteinhardtConsulting.com
Friday, November 13, 2009
ChevronTexaco, Vacuum Resid Slurry Hydrocracking (VRSH)
Give me a lever long enough and a fulcrum on which to place it, and I shall move the world. -- Archimedes
A few posts ago I highlighted Sulphco’s efforts to commercialize its Sonocracking™ desulfurization technology. As noted in the Wikinvest article on Sulphco, “Major companies like Merichem, ChevronTexaco (CVX) , CONOCOPHILLIPS (COP) and other large oil producers have been actively pursuing their own versions of sonocracking.” However, even companies with such vast resources at their disposal can have setbacks.
Note, for example, the following comment, resulting from a Google® search on “vrsh chevron” …
“The VRSH pilot plant project (Vacuum Resid Slurry Hydrocracker) now on the fast track in Pascagoula has some serious realities of scale issues to overcome, even if the pilot plant proves the technology viable.
“For one...even though the process has efficiencies of greater than 105% liquid conversion....relative to about 75-82% for a conventional delayed Coker...., the massive amounts of manufactured hydrogen required for a commercial scale plant are truly daunting. For a 100 kpbd resid unit, approximately 340 Mscfd of hydrogen would be needed. In today's dollars, we are talking about a 8 billion to 15 billion dollar investment for a VRSH complex at a refinery. Beyond the huge financial hurtles, the production of those quantities of hydrogen would require permitting new huge greenhouse gas emissions...CO2 being the byproduct of H2O / CHx reforming.
“If you start talking about carbon sequestration as a part of the project, then the cost goes into the stratosphere.
“Don't bet on seeing a commercial scale VRSH plant in the USA in the near future. When the fuel crisis winds up toward the end game, those that have the money..ie. those that have the oil....may provide the funding for a domestic plant if the political wind at that time will allow it.”
source: http://messageboards.aol.com/aol/en_us/articles.php?boardId=69817&articleId=5408&func=5&channel=Money+%26+Finance
And as a reminder to those of us who focus on technology, the price of crude has an enormous impact, as we see from the following quote from a post by Sylvia Hall (shall@wlox.com) ...
“A much awaited pilot project at Chevron's Pascagoula Refinery has been deferred due to the economy. The VRSH project, announced last March, won't be considered again until at least 2010. The company says the delay is due to the dropping price of crude oil.”
source: http://www.wlox.com/Global/story.asp?S=9766821
Speaking of economics, you may have run across the concept of using OPM – Other People’s Money – to leverage your investments. Well, you can think of employing a research service as using OPT – Other People’s Time – as a way to leverage your time. When you are hip deep in primary research and need help with secondary research, remember us at research@JeanSteinhardtConsulting.com … Our research supports your research
A few posts ago I highlighted Sulphco’s efforts to commercialize its Sonocracking™ desulfurization technology. As noted in the Wikinvest article on Sulphco, “Major companies like Merichem, ChevronTexaco (CVX) , CONOCOPHILLIPS (COP) and other large oil producers have been actively pursuing their own versions of sonocracking.” However, even companies with such vast resources at their disposal can have setbacks.
Note, for example, the following comment, resulting from a Google® search on “vrsh chevron” …
“The VRSH pilot plant project (Vacuum Resid Slurry Hydrocracker) now on the fast track in Pascagoula has some serious realities of scale issues to overcome, even if the pilot plant proves the technology viable.
“For one...even though the process has efficiencies of greater than 105% liquid conversion....relative to about 75-82% for a conventional delayed Coker...., the massive amounts of manufactured hydrogen required for a commercial scale plant are truly daunting. For a 100 kpbd resid unit, approximately 340 Mscfd of hydrogen would be needed. In today's dollars, we are talking about a 8 billion to 15 billion dollar investment for a VRSH complex at a refinery. Beyond the huge financial hurtles, the production of those quantities of hydrogen would require permitting new huge greenhouse gas emissions...CO2 being the byproduct of H2O / CHx reforming.
“If you start talking about carbon sequestration as a part of the project, then the cost goes into the stratosphere.
“Don't bet on seeing a commercial scale VRSH plant in the USA in the near future. When the fuel crisis winds up toward the end game, those that have the money..ie. those that have the oil....may provide the funding for a domestic plant if the political wind at that time will allow it.”
source: http://messageboards.aol.com/aol/en_us/articles.php?boardId=69817&articleId=5408&func=5&channel=Money+%26+Finance
And as a reminder to those of us who focus on technology, the price of crude has an enormous impact, as we see from the following quote from a post by Sylvia Hall (shall@wlox.com) ...
“A much awaited pilot project at Chevron's Pascagoula Refinery has been deferred due to the economy. The VRSH project, announced last March, won't be considered again until at least 2010. The company says the delay is due to the dropping price of crude oil.”
source: http://www.wlox.com/Global/story.asp?S=9766821
Speaking of economics, you may have run across the concept of using OPM – Other People’s Money – to leverage your investments. Well, you can think of employing a research service as using OPT – Other People’s Time – as a way to leverage your time. When you are hip deep in primary research and need help with secondary research, remember us at research@JeanSteinhardtConsulting.com … Our research supports your research
Thursday, November 12, 2009
Gone Fishin': Casting for Information on Conoco
There's a fine line between fishing and standing on the shore like an idiot. -- Steven Wright
When I ran across a reference to ConocoPhillips’ desulfurization research activities in a Sulphco article, I was curious. So I went fishing for information in ScienceDirect (www.ScienceDirect.com). A simple search statement …
conoco sulfur
resulted in a number of hits, among which were ...
Applied Catalysis B: Environmental
Volume 56, Issues 1-2, 10 March 2005, Pages 137-147
Deep desulfurization of gasoline by selective adsorption over solid adsorbents and impact of analytical methods on ppm-level sulfur quantification for fuel cell applications
Catalysis Today
Volume 116, Issue 4, 15 September 2006, Pages 554-561
Sulfur Removal to Produce Ultra Clean Fuel
Oxidation of sulfur components in diesel fuel using Fe-TAML® catalysts and hydrogen peroxide
Journal of Colloid and Interface Science
Volume 307, Issue 1, 1 March 2007, Pages 1-8
Selective adsorption of refractory sulfur species on active carbons and carbon based CoMo catalyst
Reading the full text of some of the “Conoco sulfur” articles should yield useful information that could then be used to design more specific search statements. But, as with real fishing, information angling sometimes produces disappointing results. That’s why it sometimes pays to hire someone else to do the fishing for you.
Do you have any fish stories? Submit a post, or contact me directly at: research@JeanSteinhardtConsulting.com
When I ran across a reference to ConocoPhillips’ desulfurization research activities in a Sulphco article, I was curious. So I went fishing for information in ScienceDirect (www.ScienceDirect.com). A simple search statement …
conoco sulfur
resulted in a number of hits, among which were ...
Applied Catalysis B: Environmental
Volume 56, Issues 1-2, 10 March 2005, Pages 137-147
Deep desulfurization of gasoline by selective adsorption over solid adsorbents and impact of analytical methods on ppm-level sulfur quantification for fuel cell applications
Catalysis Today
Volume 116, Issue 4, 15 September 2006, Pages 554-561
Sulfur Removal to Produce Ultra Clean Fuel
Oxidation of sulfur components in diesel fuel using Fe-TAML® catalysts and hydrogen peroxide
Journal of Colloid and Interface Science
Volume 307, Issue 1, 1 March 2007, Pages 1-8
Selective adsorption of refractory sulfur species on active carbons and carbon based CoMo catalyst
Reading the full text of some of the “Conoco sulfur” articles should yield useful information that could then be used to design more specific search statements. But, as with real fishing, information angling sometimes produces disappointing results. That’s why it sometimes pays to hire someone else to do the fishing for you.
Do you have any fish stories? Submit a post, or contact me directly at: research@JeanSteinhardtConsulting.com
Wednesday, November 11, 2009
Made in China: Dongshi Desulfurization Technology Collaboration Network
"Americans who travel abroad for the first time are often shocked to discover that, despite all the progress that has been made in the last 30 years, many foreign people still speak in foreign languages” -- Dave Barry
If desulfurization efforts in China interest you, and especially if you read Chinese, you might want to take a look at the Dongshi Desulfurization Technology Collaboration Network (http://www.dongshi888.com/en/index.asp). The Chinese language is not a part of my skill set, unfortunately. And most of the content of the Dongshi site is in Chinese. Still, there is enough English language content to offer a tantalizing view of the Network’s activities.
To quote from the site …
“In April 2005, the Dongshi Desulfurization Technology Collaboration Network was established and the first desulfurization technology exchange conference was held at the same time. This network is the first technology collaboration organization in China founded independently by enterprise in the desulfurization industry. The founder is Changchun Dongshi Technology & Trading Company. At that time there were more than one hundred member enterprises and the Technology Committee of the network consists of over ten experts and scholars who have been engaged in desulfurization technology research work for long times.
“The netwok’s mission is from enterprises and service enterprises, devote constant efforts to the improvement and raising levels of the desulfurization technology.
“From the establishment of the network up to now,5 years have been passed and I recall the participating in the collaboration network activities, there are quite a few deep impressions as follows：
“The activities of the collaboration network have been focused on the mission of the network.
The desulfurization technology exchages conferences are the main large-scale activities of the network and up to now five conferences have been held.Before the conference , letters of questionaire are sent to the member enterprises and problems existed in their actual desulfurization production are supposed to hand over and at the same times papers of good production experiences and methods of solving desulfurization problems have been sent to Dongshi.At the conferences the participants will exchange their experiences and discuss the difficult problems face to face. For some typical problems experts are organized to deliver reports on these subjects and answer questions from the representatives of the enterprises”
source: http://www.dongshi888.com/en/readnews.asp?t=980
Contact information from the Dongshi site …
Our address：Fengye Comprehensive Building, No.6th Shenzhen Street, the Economic Development District, Changchun, Jilin Province
postal code：130033
telephone exchange：
Mobile phone number：0086-431-85038366 0086-431-85041096
facsimile：
WebSite：www.dongshi888.com
E-mail：dongshi888@tom.com / 888@dongshi888.com
Our address:
No.6 Shenzhen Street,Changchun Economic Development District, Changchun Jilin Province 130033 People’s Republic of China
Company operator:0086-431-85038366
For technical service,please contact Mr. Gao Zhidou the chief engineer
Mobile phone number:0086-13610782157
E-mail: gaozhidou206@sina.com
For foreign business please contact Mr Liu Yi
Tel.:0086-431-84631910
Fax:0086-431-85041099
Mobile:0086-13614300782
E-mail: liuyihaiwai@yahoo.com.cn
If anyone has anything to share on the Dongshi Desulfurization Technology Collaboration Network, please post to this blog, or send me an email at: research@JeanSteinhardtConsulting.com
If desulfurization efforts in China interest you, and especially if you read Chinese, you might want to take a look at the Dongshi Desulfurization Technology Collaboration Network (http://www.dongshi888.com/en/index.asp). The Chinese language is not a part of my skill set, unfortunately. And most of the content of the Dongshi site is in Chinese. Still, there is enough English language content to offer a tantalizing view of the Network’s activities.
To quote from the site …
“In April 2005, the Dongshi Desulfurization Technology Collaboration Network was established and the first desulfurization technology exchange conference was held at the same time. This network is the first technology collaboration organization in China founded independently by enterprise in the desulfurization industry. The founder is Changchun Dongshi Technology & Trading Company. At that time there were more than one hundred member enterprises and the Technology Committee of the network consists of over ten experts and scholars who have been engaged in desulfurization technology research work for long times.
“The netwok’s mission is from enterprises and service enterprises, devote constant efforts to the improvement and raising levels of the desulfurization technology.
“From the establishment of the network up to now,5 years have been passed and I recall the participating in the collaboration network activities, there are quite a few deep impressions as follows：
“The activities of the collaboration network have been focused on the mission of the network.
The desulfurization technology exchages conferences are the main large-scale activities of the network and up to now five conferences have been held.Before the conference , letters of questionaire are sent to the member enterprises and problems existed in their actual desulfurization production are supposed to hand over and at the same times papers of good production experiences and methods of solving desulfurization problems have been sent to Dongshi.At the conferences the participants will exchange their experiences and discuss the difficult problems face to face. For some typical problems experts are organized to deliver reports on these subjects and answer questions from the representatives of the enterprises”
source: http://www.dongshi888.com/en/readnews.asp?t=980
Contact information from the Dongshi site …
Our address：Fengye Comprehensive Building, No.6th Shenzhen Street, the Economic Development District, Changchun, Jilin Province
postal code：130033
telephone exchange：
Mobile phone number：0086-431-85038366 0086-431-85041096
facsimile：
WebSite：www.dongshi888.com
E-mail：dongshi888@tom.com / 888@dongshi888.com
Our address:
No.6 Shenzhen Street,Changchun Economic Development District, Changchun Jilin Province 130033 People’s Republic of China
Company operator:0086-431-85038366
For technical service,please contact Mr. Gao Zhidou the chief engineer
Mobile phone number:0086-13610782157
E-mail: gaozhidou206@sina.com
For foreign business please contact Mr Liu Yi
Tel.:0086-431-84631910
Fax:0086-431-85041099
Mobile:0086-13614300782
E-mail: liuyihaiwai@yahoo.com.cn
If anyone has anything to share on the Dongshi Desulfurization Technology Collaboration Network, please post to this blog, or send me an email at: research@JeanSteinhardtConsulting.com
Tuesday, November 10, 2009
Hart Energy
“If GM had kept up with technology like the computer industry has, we would all be driving $25 cars that got 1000 MPG” -- Bill Gates
Hart Energy (www.hartenergy.com) supports the science and technology of petroleum refining in many ways. From traditional print venues such as Fuel, Refinery Tracker, Global Refining & Fuels Today, and Diesel Fuel News, through single client consulting service, you can find a solution that will help you in your quest for an answer to your desulfurization effort.
Take a look at "Middle East Fuel Quality Overview" (www.unep.org/pcfv/PDF/JordanWrkshp-MiddleEastFuelQuality.pdf), presented to UNEP Jordan by Candace Vona (cvona@hartenergy.com) in 2008. It provides a Hart organization chart that gives a quick visual of the various channels that Hart uses to provide information.
The presentation also gives a good roadmap of the path toward clean fuel in the Middle East.
As a disclaimer, Jean Steinhardt Consulting LLC is not associated in any way with Hart Energy. We invite comments from our readers on their experience with Hart, or with any other information provider. Please post your (respectful) comments to this blog, or send an email to: research@jeansteinhardtconsulting.com
Hart Energy (www.hartenergy.com) supports the science and technology of petroleum refining in many ways. From traditional print venues such as Fuel, Refinery Tracker, Global Refining & Fuels Today, and Diesel Fuel News, through single client consulting service, you can find a solution that will help you in your quest for an answer to your desulfurization effort.
Take a look at "Middle East Fuel Quality Overview" (www.unep.org/pcfv/PDF/JordanWrkshp-MiddleEastFuelQuality.pdf), presented to UNEP Jordan by Candace Vona (cvona@hartenergy.com) in 2008. It provides a Hart organization chart that gives a quick visual of the various channels that Hart uses to provide information.
The presentation also gives a good roadmap of the path toward clean fuel in the Middle East.
As a disclaimer, Jean Steinhardt Consulting LLC is not associated in any way with Hart Energy. We invite comments from our readers on their experience with Hart, or with any other information provider. Please post your (respectful) comments to this blog, or send an email to: research@jeansteinhardtconsulting.com
Friday, November 6, 2009
How do I … do a company background check?
“October: This is one of the peculiarly dangerous months to speculate in stocks. The others are July, January, September, April, November, May, March, June, December, August and February.” ~Mark Twain
Every once in a while you run across a novel desulfurization technology that you would like to explore. Sometimes the most direct way to learn about the technology is to learn about the company that owns the technology.
Case in point … Sulphco (http://www.sulphco.com/) . For years now Sulphco has been attempting to commercialize its Sonocracking technology. They have travelled a long, tortuous, and often controversial road, and as of this date may (or may not) be on the verge of profitability.
What is the best way to learn more about Sulphco and its prospects? Google® and Yahoo!® searching springs to mind. If you have a couple hours to spare, that might work for you.
However, you can optimize your time with a more targeted approach. Two free Web sites you might try are …
Wikinvest (http://www.wikinvest.com/) … this site happens to have the most comprehensive summary of the history, technology, and challenges faced by the company that I have found so far. Wikinvest’s analysis is also remarkably free of the hyperbole you will find in much of the other reports you will see on the Web.
ImpluCorportation (http://www.implu.com/) … The thing I like about this site is that it provides quick access to a list of officers, directors, and other people associated with the company.
Bookmark these two sites for future reference. And, while you’re at it, bookmark this blog (http://www.desulf.blogspot.com/)
Every once in a while you run across a novel desulfurization technology that you would like to explore. Sometimes the most direct way to learn about the technology is to learn about the company that owns the technology.
Case in point … Sulphco (http://www.sulphco.com/) . For years now Sulphco has been attempting to commercialize its Sonocracking technology. They have travelled a long, tortuous, and often controversial road, and as of this date may (or may not) be on the verge of profitability.
What is the best way to learn more about Sulphco and its prospects? Google® and Yahoo!® searching springs to mind. If you have a couple hours to spare, that might work for you.
However, you can optimize your time with a more targeted approach. Two free Web sites you might try are …
Wikinvest (http://www.wikinvest.com/) … this site happens to have the most comprehensive summary of the history, technology, and challenges faced by the company that I have found so far. Wikinvest’s analysis is also remarkably free of the hyperbole you will find in much of the other reports you will see on the Web.
ImpluCorportation (http://www.implu.com/) … The thing I like about this site is that it provides quick access to a list of officers, directors, and other people associated with the company.
Bookmark these two sites for future reference. And, while you’re at it, bookmark this blog (http://www.desulf.blogspot.com/)
Tuesday, November 3, 2009
STN International
"Scientists investigate that which already is; Engineers create that which has never been.” -- Albert Einstein
As I’ve said before, this blog is as much about how to search as it is about specific desulfurization items we have discovered during our periodic searches. Accordingly, this post on STN International (http://www.stn-international.com/) fits right in. STN International “provides access to the optimal versions of CAS-produced databases, including CAplusSM and CAS REGISTRYSM. STN ties together published research, journal literature, patents, structures, stereochemistry, trade names, physical properties, sequences, and other data. With STN, you can find information on a wide range of disciplines within natural, social, and applied sciences and mathematics.” (Thanks to AIIP (http://www.aiip.org/) for this synopsis)
How does this apply to you, a desulfurization researcher? Major oil companies subscribe to STN International. They do so because it is a hugely valuable resource which can help you do your work in a more time-effective manner. Time = money. When you save time, your company makes money.
Unfortunately, STN International is expensive. Because of this, your employer will not want to make it available to everybody in the enterprise. If you are in the group that DOES subscribe, good on you (as we say in Texas.)
If you are not in that privileged group, you should find out if some other group in the company does have access. Contact your corporate librarian, if you have one. The librarian may have access or know who does.
Your company does not employ a corporate librarian? (gasp!) Then contact STN International and ask for the sales representative for your geographic area. The sales rep will be glad to tell you who within your organization subscribes. You can then contact that group and see if they would be willing to share the cost of the subscription by including you in their contract with STN.
Once you have access to STN International resources, you will need training to use it to best advantage. Contact your corporate librarian first. Second choice is to contact your training department. Third choice is to contact your STN International sales representative. Arrange for training, onsite if possible, but Web-enabled is OK, too.
And remember if you have a “How Do I” question, send it to us at: research@JeanSteinhardtConsulting.com
As I’ve said before, this blog is as much about how to search as it is about specific desulfurization items we have discovered during our periodic searches. Accordingly, this post on STN International (http://www.stn-international.com/) fits right in. STN International “provides access to the optimal versions of CAS-produced databases, including CAplusSM and CAS REGISTRYSM. STN ties together published research, journal literature, patents, structures, stereochemistry, trade names, physical properties, sequences, and other data. With STN, you can find information on a wide range of disciplines within natural, social, and applied sciences and mathematics.” (Thanks to AIIP (http://www.aiip.org/) for this synopsis)
How does this apply to you, a desulfurization researcher? Major oil companies subscribe to STN International. They do so because it is a hugely valuable resource which can help you do your work in a more time-effective manner. Time = money. When you save time, your company makes money.
Unfortunately, STN International is expensive. Because of this, your employer will not want to make it available to everybody in the enterprise. If you are in the group that DOES subscribe, good on you (as we say in Texas.)
If you are not in that privileged group, you should find out if some other group in the company does have access. Contact your corporate librarian, if you have one. The librarian may have access or know who does.
Your company does not employ a corporate librarian? (gasp!) Then contact STN International and ask for the sales representative for your geographic area. The sales rep will be glad to tell you who within your organization subscribes. You can then contact that group and see if they would be willing to share the cost of the subscription by including you in their contract with STN.
Once you have access to STN International resources, you will need training to use it to best advantage. Contact your corporate librarian first. Second choice is to contact your training department. Third choice is to contact your STN International sales representative. Arrange for training, onsite if possible, but Web-enabled is OK, too.
And remember if you have a “How Do I” question, send it to us at: research@JeanSteinhardtConsulting.com
Sunday, November 1, 2009
Does ExxonMobil know something the others don't?
ExxonMobil, often described as the largest publicly owned integrated oil major in the world, is looking for … librarians! This in an era where it is common for corporate executives to tell their researchers “everything’s on the Internet … do it yourself.”
You and I know different. The people who actually do the work of research need the help of librarians and other information professionals to optimize their time That the decision-makers at ExxonMobil recognize this fact says a lot about the acumen of their management team.
If you, as a desulfurization researcher, are fortunate enough to have a corporate librarian at your disposal, make use of that resource. And if you do not have such a resource available to you, remember that independent information professionals like Jean Steinhardt Consulting LLC can help.
We at Jean Steinhardt Consulting offer a free “How Do I … “ service that can help you determine the usefulness of our service. When you wonder “how do I research this topic … ?“ send us your question.. We won’t do the research for free … that, as you well know, takes a lot of time. But we will offer hints, tips and tricks on how we would design a search strategy to optimize your research efforts.
Send your “HowDoI” to research@JeanSteinhardtConsulting.com
You and I know different. The people who actually do the work of research need the help of librarians and other information professionals to optimize their time That the decision-makers at ExxonMobil recognize this fact says a lot about the acumen of their management team.
If you, as a desulfurization researcher, are fortunate enough to have a corporate librarian at your disposal, make use of that resource. And if you do not have such a resource available to you, remember that independent information professionals like Jean Steinhardt Consulting LLC can help.
We at Jean Steinhardt Consulting offer a free “How Do I … “ service that can help you determine the usefulness of our service. When you wonder “how do I research this topic … ?“ send us your question.. We won’t do the research for free … that, as you well know, takes a lot of time. But we will offer hints, tips and tricks on how we would design a search strategy to optimize your research efforts.
Send your “HowDoI” to research@JeanSteinhardtConsulting.com
Wednesday, October 28, 2009
IPCC-Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change
"To see a world in a grain of sand" -- William Blake - Auguries of Innocence
This blog focuses on the technology of desulfurization, but in the Web-enabled world we live in, everything connects to everything else. That’s why the work of the IPCC-Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (http://www.ipcc.ch/) is worth a look.
As described in the Wikipedia article, the IPCC’s work centers around achieving consensus on global policies that will (we hope) avert the looming disastrous effects of global warming.
(source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Intergovernmental_Panel_on_Climate_Change )
You, as a technologist, may not be interested in policy, but policy does tend to influence the direction of current research. So I invite you to glance at some of the reports available on their site.
In particular, browse the following …
IPCC Special Report on Emissions Scenarios
Chapter 5: Emission Scenarios
5.5.2. Sulfur
source: http://www.grida.no/publications/other/ipcc_sr/?src=/climate/ipcc/emission/126.htm
Forward thinking oil majors like ChevronTexaco and Saudi Aramco recognize that it is in their best long-term interest to support the efforts of the IPCC. Scientists from these organizations participate with hundreds of others in several workgroups to produce science-based policy that will, if implemented, benefit the entire planet.
Have you ever spent several hours trying to locate an article recommended by a colleague? We can help reduce your stress level. Contact us at: research@JeanSteinhardtConsulting.com for details.
This blog focuses on the technology of desulfurization, but in the Web-enabled world we live in, everything connects to everything else. That’s why the work of the IPCC-Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (http://www.ipcc.ch/) is worth a look.
As described in the Wikipedia article, the IPCC’s work centers around achieving consensus on global policies that will (we hope) avert the looming disastrous effects of global warming.
(source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Intergovernmental_Panel_on_Climate_Change )
You, as a technologist, may not be interested in policy, but policy does tend to influence the direction of current research. So I invite you to glance at some of the reports available on their site.
In particular, browse the following …
IPCC Special Report on Emissions Scenarios
Chapter 5: Emission Scenarios
5.5.2. Sulfur
source: http://www.grida.no/publications/other/ipcc_sr/?src=/climate/ipcc/emission/126.htm
Forward thinking oil majors like ChevronTexaco and Saudi Aramco recognize that it is in their best long-term interest to support the efforts of the IPCC. Scientists from these organizations participate with hundreds of others in several workgroups to produce science-based policy that will, if implemented, benefit the entire planet.
Have you ever spent several hours trying to locate an article recommended by a colleague? We can help reduce your stress level. Contact us at: research@JeanSteinhardtConsulting.com for details.
Saturday, October 24, 2009
Why Do I … Search LexisNexis
Oil majors like ExxonMobil, ChevronTexaco, and Saudi Aramco, subscribe to lots of commercial online information sources, including LexisNexis. Why? One … the oil business requires a broad range of talent, including technical, legal, accounting, recruiting, security, oil trading, human resources, and public relations. LexisNexis makes it easy for people in all these areas to stay on top of the news that helps them do their job.
Oil majors can afford to pay for site licenses for their employees. Smaller companies and independents have to be more selective.
OK, fine … but why should you, a desulfurization expert, care about news? Because searching for desulfurization on a news database helps you follow developments in desulfurization technology that you can then research in more technically oriented sources.
If your company provides access to LexisNexis, either directly through a site license or indirectly through its corporate library, take advantage of it. If your company does not provide access, LexisNexis offers a pay-as-you-go option ... visit http://web.lexis.com/xchange/ccsubs/cc_prods.asp
Wondering which online sources to subscribe to? We can help. Post your question to this blog, or send an email to research@JeanSteinhardtConsulting.com.
Oil majors can afford to pay for site licenses for their employees. Smaller companies and independents have to be more selective.
OK, fine … but why should you, a desulfurization expert, care about news? Because searching for desulfurization on a news database helps you follow developments in desulfurization technology that you can then research in more technically oriented sources.
If your company provides access to LexisNexis, either directly through a site license or indirectly through its corporate library, take advantage of it. If your company does not provide access, LexisNexis offers a pay-as-you-go option ... visit http://web.lexis.com/xchange/ccsubs/cc_prods.asp
Wondering which online sources to subscribe to? We can help. Post your question to this blog, or send an email to research@JeanSteinhardtConsulting.com.
Friday, October 23, 2009
How Do I … search LexisNexis?
This How Do I tip begins with a Why Do I prelude. Googling and Yahooing is second nature to online searchers. But vast as is the ocean of information available via the search engines, there are worlds of information beyond that ocean’s shores. To access this extraGoogle world, you need to visit gatekeepers like LexisNexis.
The barrier separating LexisNexis et al from Google-land is cost. You have to pay to play.
However, you can glimpse the world beyond Google at no charge. I discovered this by accident. While researching something else, I ran across the following …
“Freebies: Yes, you can get something for nothing at LexisNexis, but it takes a bit of doing. LexisNexis has a Pay-as-You-Go page, where you can set up an account with a credit card, and then buy individual articles and other information at a few bucks a pop. It's a convenient, useful and not very well-known way of accessing their content. If you sign-up, you can then search their content at no charge, and get bits and pieces of information back for free...you only pay if you then go ahead and access the full article. It's well worth the hassle.”
“LexisNexis PAY as you go: http://web.lexis.com/xchange/ccsubs/cc_prods.asp “
source: http://xooxleanswers.com/lexisnexis.aspx
Have a HowDoI?” … send it to research@JeanSteinhardtConsulting.com … we will send you tips on how to find the information you need ... Free service!
The barrier separating LexisNexis et al from Google-land is cost. You have to pay to play.
However, you can glimpse the world beyond Google at no charge. I discovered this by accident. While researching something else, I ran across the following …
“Freebies: Yes, you can get something for nothing at LexisNexis, but it takes a bit of doing. LexisNexis has a Pay-as-You-Go page, where you can set up an account with a credit card, and then buy individual articles and other information at a few bucks a pop. It's a convenient, useful and not very well-known way of accessing their content. If you sign-up, you can then search their content at no charge, and get bits and pieces of information back for free...you only pay if you then go ahead and access the full article. It's well worth the hassle.”
“LexisNexis PAY as you go: http://web.lexis.com/xchange/ccsubs/cc_prods.asp “
source: http://xooxleanswers.com/lexisnexis.aspx
Have a HowDoI?” … send it to research@JeanSteinhardtConsulting.com … we will send you tips on how to find the information you need ... Free service!
Sunday, October 18, 2009
Time Saver Tip: How do I … ?
Time is an illusion. Lunchtime doubly so. (Douglas Adams, 1952 - 2001)
Saving time is a big deal. Today’s tip … how to keep up with current developments in desulfurization technology and still have time to do your job.
First, a strategy review … there are several distinct phases in the quest for perfect desulfurization information…
• Basic research
• Applied research
• Bench scale tests
• Pilot scale tests
• Commercialization
• Optimization
If you are engaged in desulfurization research at the pilot scale, commercialization or optimization stage, this time saver tip is for you.
Pick out a handful of journals that you can scan for new desulfurization developments. The three I recommend are …
• PTQ – Petroleum Technology Quarterly(http://www.eptq.com/)
• Hydrocarbon Processing (http://www.hydrocarbonprocessing.com/)
• Hydrocarbon Engineering (http://www.energyglobal.com/magazines/latestissue/hydrocarbon-engineering.aspx)
Each of the three covers petroleum refining applications including those specifically concerned with desulfurization. Peruse the table of contents of each issue and you will stay on top of new developments in your field.
When you find an article of particular interest, you can Google® or Yahoo!® or search your favorite online source for more information on the specifics covered by that article.
Have a “How Do I … “ question? Post it as a comment to this blog, or send it as an email to research@JeanSteinhardtConsulting.com. We will do our best to answer the HowDoI … This is a free service … no strings.
Saving time is a big deal. Today’s tip … how to keep up with current developments in desulfurization technology and still have time to do your job.
First, a strategy review … there are several distinct phases in the quest for perfect desulfurization information…
• Basic research
• Applied research
• Bench scale tests
• Pilot scale tests
• Commercialization
• Optimization
If you are engaged in desulfurization research at the pilot scale, commercialization or optimization stage, this time saver tip is for you.
Pick out a handful of journals that you can scan for new desulfurization developments. The three I recommend are …
• PTQ – Petroleum Technology Quarterly(http://www.eptq.com/)
• Hydrocarbon Processing (http://www.hydrocarbonprocessing.com/)
• Hydrocarbon Engineering (http://www.energyglobal.com/magazines/latestissue/hydrocarbon-engineering.aspx)
Each of the three covers petroleum refining applications including those specifically concerned with desulfurization. Peruse the table of contents of each issue and you will stay on top of new developments in your field.
When you find an article of particular interest, you can Google® or Yahoo!® or search your favorite online source for more information on the specifics covered by that article.
Have a “How Do I … “ question? Post it as a comment to this blog, or send it as an email to research@JeanSteinhardtConsulting.com. We will do our best to answer the HowDoI … This is a free service … no strings.
Thursday, October 15, 2009
SRI International
SRI International produces valuable research in a broad range of areas, including the field of desulfurization. To quote from the SRI web …
“SRI International is an independent, nonprofit research institute conducting client-sponsored research and development for government agencies, commercial businesses, foundations, and other organizations. SRI also brings its innovations to the marketplace by licensing its intellectual property and creating new ventures.
“For more than 60 years, since our beginnings when we were called Stanford Research Institute, our strengths have been our staff's world-leading expertise and passion for working with clients on important challenges. SRI is well known for its legacy of innovations in communications and networks, computing, economic development and science and technology policy, education, energy and the environment, engineering systems, pharmaceuticals and health sciences, homeland security and national defense, materials and structures, and robotics.
“Independent from Stanford University since 1970, SRI is a nonprofit scientific research institute formed under Section 501(c)(3) of the U.S. Internal Revenue Service and incorporated in the State of California. Get quick answers about SRI here. Also request or download our corporate overview brochures (Acrobat PDF) to get a look at who we are and how we meet important client needs. “
source: http://www.sri.com/about/
Here is an example of the results of SRI’s desulfurization research, quoting again from the SRI web …
Low Sulfur Gasoline
The Separation Science research team at SRI has developed a cost-effective process for making low-sulfur gasoline (<40 ppm). The S-containing compounds are absorbed from gasoline, using specific zeolites, which are regenerated through a displacement cycle with ammonia.
Advantage
SRI's process is much less expensive than existing methods for reducing sulfur. Because the process also avoids hydrotreating, octane-enhancing components in gasoline are not destroyed.
Opportunity
With the U.S. government mandating significantly lower legal sulfur levels in gasoline, there is a growing need for a less costly and less complex process for sulfur reduction. SRI's technology presents a strong licensing avenue for a petroleum or engineering company, including the opportunity for working in partnership with SRI during the project's development and marketing.
source: http://www.sri.com/psd/technologies/lowsulfur.html
Are you wondering which of the technology “think tanks” to use? We can help. Contact research@JeanSteinhardtConsulting.com for details.
“SRI International is an independent, nonprofit research institute conducting client-sponsored research and development for government agencies, commercial businesses, foundations, and other organizations. SRI also brings its innovations to the marketplace by licensing its intellectual property and creating new ventures.
“For more than 60 years, since our beginnings when we were called Stanford Research Institute, our strengths have been our staff's world-leading expertise and passion for working with clients on important challenges. SRI is well known for its legacy of innovations in communications and networks, computing, economic development and science and technology policy, education, energy and the environment, engineering systems, pharmaceuticals and health sciences, homeland security and national defense, materials and structures, and robotics.
“Independent from Stanford University since 1970, SRI is a nonprofit scientific research institute formed under Section 501(c)(3) of the U.S. Internal Revenue Service and incorporated in the State of California. Get quick answers about SRI here. Also request or download our corporate overview brochures (Acrobat PDF) to get a look at who we are and how we meet important client needs. “
source: http://www.sri.com/about/
Here is an example of the results of SRI’s desulfurization research, quoting again from the SRI web …
Low Sulfur Gasoline
The Separation Science research team at SRI has developed a cost-effective process for making low-sulfur gasoline (<40 ppm). The S-containing compounds are absorbed from gasoline, using specific zeolites, which are regenerated through a displacement cycle with ammonia.
Advantage
SRI's process is much less expensive than existing methods for reducing sulfur. Because the process also avoids hydrotreating, octane-enhancing components in gasoline are not destroyed.
Opportunity
With the U.S. government mandating significantly lower legal sulfur levels in gasoline, there is a growing need for a less costly and less complex process for sulfur reduction. SRI's technology presents a strong licensing avenue for a petroleum or engineering company, including the opportunity for working in partnership with SRI during the project's development and marketing.
source: http://www.sri.com/psd/technologies/lowsulfur.html
Are you wondering which of the technology “think tanks” to use? We can help. Contact research@JeanSteinhardtConsulting.com for details.
Wednesday, October 14, 2009
Q&A on PTQ (Petroleum Technology Quarterly)
PTQ (Petroleum Technology Quarterly / http://www.eptq.com/) is a source of superior technical articles on all aspects of petroleum refining. It also has great Q&A functionality (http://www.eptq.com/qanda.aspx?intContentID=38)
For example, a Q&A search on “sulphur” produced a number of interactive responses, including the following exchange …
Q & A > Search Results : sulphur
Q & A > Question Details
In DHDT unit suppose benzene converted to cyclohexane and then cyclohexane converted to normal hexane. What is the mechanism of this reaction? How is aromatic converted to cyclohexane then how cyclohexane ring broken and converted to n-hexane?
Answers (excerpt)
19/08/2009 A: kavirayani R Murthy, paramount Limited , krmurthy_ipcl@yahoo.com
The catalyst used for the processes like Reforming and Hydrodesulphurization reactions are of bifunctional type. Bifunctional means there are two functions incorporated in to the same catalyst. The cooperation between the acid and metal functions is important requisite for the process to proceed as well as for better performance of the catalyst. In Reforming catalyst, metal function is performed by metals like platinum or platinum-rhenium whereas in the case of hydrodesulphurization catalyst this metal function is performed by metals like Nickel or Cobolt.
Metal function derived from the active metal present on the surface of the catalyst mostly performs hydrogenation and dehydrogenation reactions
Acid function derived from the catalyst supports like Gama alumina, eta alumina, zeolites and other catalyst supports having strong acid sites mostly performs acid related reactions like dehydrocyclization, dehydroisomerization, hydrocracking etc. These strong acid sites present in the catalyst support produces positively charged protons in the presence of moisture. These protons on migration to the carbon portion of the organic molecule will produce positively charged carbonium ions. This imbalance of charge helps in conducting various acid controlled reactions.
For example, in dehydrocyclization reaction normal hexane gets converted to cyclohexane by closing the ring due to the presence of strong acid sites in the support The cyclohexane thus formed on the acidic support, when comes in contact with active surface platinum atoms present in the metal portion of the catalyst gets converted to benzene by taking out the hydrogen from the molecule. Because of this excellent cooperation between these two functions, these catalysts are called bifunctional catalysts.
Like dehydrocyclization reaction, another important reaction is dehydroisomerization; this once again exhibits excellent cooperation between the acid and metal functions. In dehydroisomerization reaction say methyl cyclopentane gets converted to Benzene, Here the acid in support breaks the cyclopentane (the five member ring naphthene) and reforms into a six carbon ring naphthene like cyclohexane, the cyclohexanes thus formed gets dehydrogenated on the metal portion of the catalyst to form benzene.
Thus saturated paraffins may get converted to rings or saturated rings may get cracked and gets converted to normal paraffins like cyclohexanes in this case.
Are your people underutilizing the expensive site licenses to information products like ScienceDirect and EbscoHost? We can train them to be more effective searchers. Contact research@JeanSteinhardtConsulting.com for details.
For example, a Q&A search on “sulphur” produced a number of interactive responses, including the following exchange …
Q & A > Search Results : sulphur
Q & A > Question Details
In DHDT unit suppose benzene converted to cyclohexane and then cyclohexane converted to normal hexane. What is the mechanism of this reaction? How is aromatic converted to cyclohexane then how cyclohexane ring broken and converted to n-hexane?
Answers (excerpt)
19/08/2009 A: kavirayani R Murthy, paramount Limited , krmurthy_ipcl@yahoo.com
The catalyst used for the processes like Reforming and Hydrodesulphurization reactions are of bifunctional type. Bifunctional means there are two functions incorporated in to the same catalyst. The cooperation between the acid and metal functions is important requisite for the process to proceed as well as for better performance of the catalyst. In Reforming catalyst, metal function is performed by metals like platinum or platinum-rhenium whereas in the case of hydrodesulphurization catalyst this metal function is performed by metals like Nickel or Cobolt.
Metal function derived from the active metal present on the surface of the catalyst mostly performs hydrogenation and dehydrogenation reactions
Acid function derived from the catalyst supports like Gama alumina, eta alumina, zeolites and other catalyst supports having strong acid sites mostly performs acid related reactions like dehydrocyclization, dehydroisomerization, hydrocracking etc. These strong acid sites present in the catalyst support produces positively charged protons in the presence of moisture. These protons on migration to the carbon portion of the organic molecule will produce positively charged carbonium ions. This imbalance of charge helps in conducting various acid controlled reactions.
For example, in dehydrocyclization reaction normal hexane gets converted to cyclohexane by closing the ring due to the presence of strong acid sites in the support The cyclohexane thus formed on the acidic support, when comes in contact with active surface platinum atoms present in the metal portion of the catalyst gets converted to benzene by taking out the hydrogen from the molecule. Because of this excellent cooperation between these two functions, these catalysts are called bifunctional catalysts.
Like dehydrocyclization reaction, another important reaction is dehydroisomerization; this once again exhibits excellent cooperation between the acid and metal functions. In dehydroisomerization reaction say methyl cyclopentane gets converted to Benzene, Here the acid in support breaks the cyclopentane (the five member ring naphthene) and reforms into a six carbon ring naphthene like cyclohexane, the cyclohexanes thus formed gets dehydrogenated on the metal portion of the catalyst to form benzene.
Thus saturated paraffins may get converted to rings or saturated rings may get cracked and gets converted to normal paraffins like cyclohexanes in this case.
Are your people underutilizing the expensive site licenses to information products like ScienceDirect and EbscoHost? We can train them to be more effective searchers. Contact research@JeanSteinhardtConsulting.com for details.
Saturday, October 10, 2009
Technology Alerts
One of the best things you can do for your colleagues is to produce a periodic technology alert that you send to a small but highly targeted group within your organization.
As a library researcher for Aramco Services, which serves its parent Saudi Aramco, I produced a weekly technology alert that focused on areas of interest to engineers and scientists within the Saudi Aramco enterprise. The Desulfurization blog you are reading now is a modified version of the original concept.
In the Alert, I provided a few sentences that described the content of each article profiled within the alert. I also invited those who received the alert to contact me by return email if they wanted the full text of any of the items in the Alert.
Designing the Alert in this way provided several benefits …
1) It saved valuable time on the part of the engineers and scientists.
2) It saved money. Because I spent my time searching, they spent their time doing the work for which they were paid the big bucks. This resulted in strategic cost savings for the Saudi Aramco enterprise.
3) It enabled compliance with copyright. Because I was not mounting the full text of copyright protected articles on the Intranet, we did not have to spend large amounts of money on licensing fees. At the same time, as participants in the OCLC Interlibrary Loan system, we were able to provide a single copy of an article to a specific individual. In addition, as participants in the Copyright Clearance Center, we demonstrated a good faith effort to comply with copyright.
4) The feedback which resulted from requests for articles guided me in the production of future editions of the Alert.
Here is an example of the type of article I might have profiled …
Microbiology 154 (2008), 2169-2183
Review
Biocatalytic desulfurization (BDS) of petrodiesel fuels
Ghasemali Mohebali1 and Andrew S. Ball2
1 Department of Petroleum Biotechnology, Biotechnology Research Center, Research Institute of Petroleum Industry, Tehran, Iran
2 School of Biological Sciences, Flinders University of South Australia, Adelaide, SA 5001, Australia
Correspondence: Ghasemali Mohebali (mohebaligh@ripi.ir)
The world is on the road to zero-sulfur fuel., Hydrodesulfurization (HDS) is the most common technology used by refineries to remove sulfur from intermediate streams. HDS has several disadvantages, however.
• HDS is energy intensive
• HDS is costly to install and to operate
• HDS does not work well on refractory organosulfur compounds.
Recent research focuses on the development of alternative technologies. One possible approach is biocatalytic desulfurization (BDS). BDS can be operated in conditions that require less energy and hydrogen. BDS operates at ambient temperature and pressure with high selectivity, resulting in decreased energy costs, low emission, and no generation of undesirable side products.
This review examines the developments in the understanding of bacteria in BDS processes, assesses the technical viability of this technology and examines its future challenges.
View the full text of this article at …
http://mic.sgmjournals.org/cgi/content/full/154/8/2169
We can help you set up a Technology Alert custom made for your target audience. Contact research@JeanSteinhardtConsulting.com for details.
As a library researcher for Aramco Services, which serves its parent Saudi Aramco, I produced a weekly technology alert that focused on areas of interest to engineers and scientists within the Saudi Aramco enterprise. The Desulfurization blog you are reading now is a modified version of the original concept.
In the Alert, I provided a few sentences that described the content of each article profiled within the alert. I also invited those who received the alert to contact me by return email if they wanted the full text of any of the items in the Alert.
Designing the Alert in this way provided several benefits …
1) It saved valuable time on the part of the engineers and scientists.
2) It saved money. Because I spent my time searching, they spent their time doing the work for which they were paid the big bucks. This resulted in strategic cost savings for the Saudi Aramco enterprise.
3) It enabled compliance with copyright. Because I was not mounting the full text of copyright protected articles on the Intranet, we did not have to spend large amounts of money on licensing fees. At the same time, as participants in the OCLC Interlibrary Loan system, we were able to provide a single copy of an article to a specific individual. In addition, as participants in the Copyright Clearance Center, we demonstrated a good faith effort to comply with copyright.
4) The feedback which resulted from requests for articles guided me in the production of future editions of the Alert.
Here is an example of the type of article I might have profiled …
Microbiology 154 (2008), 2169-2183
Review
Biocatalytic desulfurization (BDS) of petrodiesel fuels
Ghasemali Mohebali1 and Andrew S. Ball2
1 Department of Petroleum Biotechnology, Biotechnology Research Center, Research Institute of Petroleum Industry, Tehran, Iran
2 School of Biological Sciences, Flinders University of South Australia, Adelaide, SA 5001, Australia
Correspondence: Ghasemali Mohebali (mohebaligh@ripi.ir)
The world is on the road to zero-sulfur fuel., Hydrodesulfurization (HDS) is the most common technology used by refineries to remove sulfur from intermediate streams. HDS has several disadvantages, however.
• HDS is energy intensive
• HDS is costly to install and to operate
• HDS does not work well on refractory organosulfur compounds.
Recent research focuses on the development of alternative technologies. One possible approach is biocatalytic desulfurization (BDS). BDS can be operated in conditions that require less energy and hydrogen. BDS operates at ambient temperature and pressure with high selectivity, resulting in decreased energy costs, low emission, and no generation of undesirable side products.
This review examines the developments in the understanding of bacteria in BDS processes, assesses the technical viability of this technology and examines its future challenges.
View the full text of this article at …
http://mic.sgmjournals.org/cgi/content/full/154/8/2169
We can help you set up a Technology Alert custom made for your target audience. Contact research@JeanSteinhardtConsulting.com for details.
Friday, October 9, 2009
Search tip: Core Documents
I am not a desulfurization expert. You are. But I am good at finding things. I’m probably better at finding things than you are. I should be … I have been finding useful information for people like you for over 30 years. I believe that it makes sense for you to spend your valuable time doing what you are good at and for people like me to support your work by doing what I am good at … finding you the articles and papers you need to continue your research.
However, management often takes a different view, and expects you to do your own online searching.
If you find yourself in the position of having to do the job of library researcher in addition to the job you were hired to do, you need to follow this blog.
It is a blog focused on desulfurization, but it also focuses on search technjques I have accumulated over the course of my career in library research. You can pick up some tips and tricks that you may not have thought of … and thereby increase the effectiveness of your online searching.
Today’s search tip … Core Documents.
I have a folder on my hard drive named “Core Documents.” Within that folder are subfolders labeled according to technical topic. In my Desulfurization subfolder, some of the core documents are …
A Literature Review on Cold Cracking of Petroleum Crude Oil (2006)
Bacterial Degradation of Aromatic Compunds (2009)
Basic research needs-Catalysis for energy (2007)
Bibliometric Analysis for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency-Office of Research and Development's Science and Technology for Sustainability (STS) (2009)
Motor Gasolines Technical Review (2008)
Frontiers in Catalysis-Advanced Synthesis, Characterization, Modeling (2009)
Overview of FCC Gasoline Post-Treating Technologies (2008)
Petroleum biotechnology-Technology trends for the future (2009)
Toward the computational design of solid catalysts (2009)
I review these core documents whenever I am asked to find information on a particular topic. They provide key words, names of significant researchers in the field, and a context within which to organize the key concepts of the technology in question.
Most of these core documents are the accidental result of searches on other topics. When I find one that may be of future interest, I download it and save it in the appropriate folder.
This saves a huge amount of time whenever I am asked to research a particular topic. You are an expert in your field, but as the focus shifts to related, but less familiar fields, you can get a leg up by finding and perusing a relevant review in that field.
Comments? Let me know at research@JeanSteinhardtConsulting.com
However, management often takes a different view, and expects you to do your own online searching.
If you find yourself in the position of having to do the job of library researcher in addition to the job you were hired to do, you need to follow this blog.
It is a blog focused on desulfurization, but it also focuses on search technjques I have accumulated over the course of my career in library research. You can pick up some tips and tricks that you may not have thought of … and thereby increase the effectiveness of your online searching.
Today’s search tip … Core Documents.
I have a folder on my hard drive named “Core Documents.” Within that folder are subfolders labeled according to technical topic. In my Desulfurization subfolder, some of the core documents are …
A Literature Review on Cold Cracking of Petroleum Crude Oil (2006)
Bacterial Degradation of Aromatic Compunds (2009)
Basic research needs-Catalysis for energy (2007)
Bibliometric Analysis for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency-Office of Research and Development's Science and Technology for Sustainability (STS) (2009)
Motor Gasolines Technical Review (2008)
Frontiers in Catalysis-Advanced Synthesis, Characterization, Modeling (2009)
Overview of FCC Gasoline Post-Treating Technologies (2008)
Petroleum biotechnology-Technology trends for the future (2009)
Toward the computational design of solid catalysts (2009)
I review these core documents whenever I am asked to find information on a particular topic. They provide key words, names of significant researchers in the field, and a context within which to organize the key concepts of the technology in question.
Most of these core documents are the accidental result of searches on other topics. When I find one that may be of future interest, I download it and save it in the appropriate folder.
This saves a huge amount of time whenever I am asked to research a particular topic. You are an expert in your field, but as the focus shifts to related, but less familiar fields, you can get a leg up by finding and perusing a relevant review in that field.
Comments? Let me know at research@JeanSteinhardtConsulting.com
Tuesday, October 6, 2009
The Key
Key words are so important to effective searching that I keep a key word list that I use to jump start a research request. Here a small sample from the list ...
Proteomics
Metabolomics
Integrated membrane process for treating desulfurization effluent
sulphur-resistant noble metal hydrotreating catalyst
aromatic heterocyclic sulfur
nanocrystalline metal oxides
Dibenzothiophene
dimethyldibenzothiophene
“ionic liquids” +diesel
“oxidative desulfurization”
nanoclusters +HDS
chalcogels
“Adsorptive desulfurization”
“extractive desulfurization”
“π-complexation”
desulfurization +"room temperature"
zeolite desulfurization 2009
ConocoPhillips SZorb
Nanostructured Catalytic Membranes
Nanoporous Catalytic Membranes
“heterogeneous catalysis” +desulfurization
Surface and interfacial dynamics
surface molecular dynamics
vibrational energy transfer
interface nonlinear optical spectroscopy
ultrafast interface spectroscopy
surface vibrational spectroscopy
nanoparticle spectroscopy
photopolymer kinetics
organic optical materials
SARS – Selective Absorption for Removal of Sulfur
bacteria dibenzothiophene 2009
4S pathway
biodesulfurization
With each successful search I perform, I note and record new key words to add to my list.
Have you ever wondered how find the time to do everything you need to do? We can help. Remember, our research supports your research. Visit www.JeanSteinhardtConsulting.com for more details.
Proteomics
Metabolomics
Integrated membrane process for treating desulfurization effluent
sulphur-resistant noble metal hydrotreating catalyst
aromatic heterocyclic sulfur
nanocrystalline metal oxides
Dibenzothiophene
dimethyldibenzothiophene
“ionic liquids” +diesel
“oxidative desulfurization”
nanoclusters +HDS
chalcogels
“Adsorptive desulfurization”
“extractive desulfurization”
“π-complexation”
desulfurization +"room temperature"
zeolite desulfurization 2009
ConocoPhillips SZorb
Nanostructured Catalytic Membranes
Nanoporous Catalytic Membranes
“heterogeneous catalysis” +desulfurization
Surface and interfacial dynamics
surface molecular dynamics
vibrational energy transfer
interface nonlinear optical spectroscopy
ultrafast interface spectroscopy
surface vibrational spectroscopy
nanoparticle spectroscopy
photopolymer kinetics
organic optical materials
SARS – Selective Absorption for Removal of Sulfur
bacteria dibenzothiophene 2009
4S pathway
biodesulfurization
With each successful search I perform, I note and record new key words to add to my list.
Have you ever wondered how find the time to do everything you need to do? We can help. Remember, our research supports your research. Visit www.JeanSteinhardtConsulting.com for more details.
Monday, October 5, 2009
Microbial Biodesulfurization Of Dibenzo-Thiophene In Egyptian Petroleum Crude Oil
MEOR - Microbial Enhanced Oil Recovery - is a hot topic in desulfurization. We ran across the following article in a recent search ...
Microbial Biodesulfurization Of Dibenzo-Thiophene In Egyptian Petroleum Crude Oil (2009)
Biodesulfurization has been studied as an alternative to HDS for removal of organic sulfur from fuels. The use of hydrocarbon degradation pathways that attacked DBT was unsuccessful because these systems relied on the oxidation and mineralization of the carbon skeleton instead of sulfur removal. Therefore, it significantly reduced the fuel value of the desulfurized end product. More recently, bacteria that desulfurize DBT and a variety of other organic sulfur compounds typically found in petroleum oils via a sulfur selective oxidative pathway that does not remove carbon have been isolated. This pathway involves the sequentional oxidation of the sulfur moiety followed by cleavage of the carbon sulfur bonds (Monticello et al., 1985; Grossman, 1996).
This study aims to isolate, purify and identify some microorganisms that have the ability to degrade DBT and fossil fuelbiodesulfurization (sulfur removal) without concomitant metabolism of hydrocarbon value of the fuel. In this study we describe of the microbial desulfurization of DBT by two yeast isolates under the best culture conditions and its application. The possibility of using these isolates for application was discussed.
Source:
http://egyptseb.org/journal/index.php?module=documents&JAS_DocumentManager_op=downloadFile&JAS_File_id=194
Follow this blog for desulfurization alerts and tips on how to make your own searches more effective. Let us know what particular aspect of desulfurization interests you by emailing us at:
research@JeanSteinhardtConsulting.com
Microbial Biodesulfurization Of Dibenzo-Thiophene In Egyptian Petroleum Crude Oil (2009)
Biodesulfurization has been studied as an alternative to HDS for removal of organic sulfur from fuels. The use of hydrocarbon degradation pathways that attacked DBT was unsuccessful because these systems relied on the oxidation and mineralization of the carbon skeleton instead of sulfur removal. Therefore, it significantly reduced the fuel value of the desulfurized end product. More recently, bacteria that desulfurize DBT and a variety of other organic sulfur compounds typically found in petroleum oils via a sulfur selective oxidative pathway that does not remove carbon have been isolated. This pathway involves the sequentional oxidation of the sulfur moiety followed by cleavage of the carbon sulfur bonds (Monticello et al., 1985; Grossman, 1996).
This study aims to isolate, purify and identify some microorganisms that have the ability to degrade DBT and fossil fuelbiodesulfurization (sulfur removal) without concomitant metabolism of hydrocarbon value of the fuel. In this study we describe of the microbial desulfurization of DBT by two yeast isolates under the best culture conditions and its application. The possibility of using these isolates for application was discussed.
Source:
http://egyptseb.org/journal/index.php?module=documents&JAS_DocumentManager_op=downloadFile&JAS_File_id=194
Follow this blog for desulfurization alerts and tips on how to make your own searches more effective. Let us know what particular aspect of desulfurization interests you by emailing us at:
research@JeanSteinhardtConsulting.com
Sunday, October 4, 2009
A kinetic study on biodesulfurization of di-benzothiophene in a downflow jet loop
Iran gets a lot of bad press in the U.S., but some interesting research is coming out of that country. Example …
A kinetic study on biodesulfurization of di-benzothiophene in a downflow jet loop (Iran)(2008)
19th World Petroleum Conference, Spain 2008
Forum 09: Latest advances and novel processes for deep desulfurization
From the Introduction
"Some organic sulfur compounds can only be eliminated by biological methods. Microbial desulfurization may be carried out both aerobically and anaerobically. In this study, anaerobic bacteria have been applied. In the presence of either hydrogen or nitrogen gases the sulfur organic compounds are reduced by the anaerobic bacteria. The products of reactions are H2S gas and organic compounds free from sulfur. One of the advantages of anerobic desulfurization is that no loss in the amount of oil is encountered by application of such processes. In addition, these reactions are more compatible with conventional hydrodesulfurization process applied in industry.
"In this study desulfurization of DBT (di-benzothiophene) by D. desulfuricans in an anaerobic jar without injection of hydrogen has been investigated. In addition, such a process has been conducted in a DJR (down flow jet loop bioreactor) system, with the injection of hydrogen.
"The results obtained from this study have been compared with those determined under different reaction methods."
View the full text of this paper at …
http://www.kgu.or.kr/download.php?tb=bbs_017&fn=5abe291428ef97a6efb630b92856c468.pdf&rn=509.pdf
If you like this blog, let me know at ...
research@JeanSteinhardtConsulting.com
A kinetic study on biodesulfurization of di-benzothiophene in a downflow jet loop (Iran)(2008)
19th World Petroleum Conference, Spain 2008
Forum 09: Latest advances and novel processes for deep desulfurization
From the Introduction
"Some organic sulfur compounds can only be eliminated by biological methods. Microbial desulfurization may be carried out both aerobically and anaerobically. In this study, anaerobic bacteria have been applied. In the presence of either hydrogen or nitrogen gases the sulfur organic compounds are reduced by the anaerobic bacteria. The products of reactions are H2S gas and organic compounds free from sulfur. One of the advantages of anerobic desulfurization is that no loss in the amount of oil is encountered by application of such processes. In addition, these reactions are more compatible with conventional hydrodesulfurization process applied in industry.
"In this study desulfurization of DBT (di-benzothiophene) by D. desulfuricans in an anaerobic jar without injection of hydrogen has been investigated. In addition, such a process has been conducted in a DJR (down flow jet loop bioreactor) system, with the injection of hydrogen.
"The results obtained from this study have been compared with those determined under different reaction methods."
View the full text of this paper at …
http://www.kgu.or.kr/download.php?tb=bbs_017&fn=5abe291428ef97a6efb630b92856c468.pdf&rn=509.pdf
If you like this blog, let me know at ...
research@JeanSteinhardtConsulting.com
Saturday, October 3, 2009
Wikipedia Revisited
Skepticism abounds regarding the reliability of the information available on Wikipedia. Still, we have found it to be a useful resource. Take, for example, the case of MEOR - Microbial Enhanced Oil Recovery.
If you are an expert in the field, the table listing the major ventures working MEOR can be useful.
If you are new to the field, the survey of areas of application, problems to be addressed, advantages and disadvantages, etc., can be helpful.
Here are some excerpts from the Wikipedia article on MEOR …
Ventures working in MEOR (Private sector)
Rawwater Engineering Company Ltd
Oppenheimer Biotechnology, Inc.
Titan Oil Recovery, Inc.
Yara International ASA
Circle T Sales and Service Inc.
GloriOil Ltd.
StatoilHydro ASA
Environmental BioTechnologies, Inc.
ONGC-IRS
Rogaland Research
COREC
CIPR
"Several decades of research and successful applications support the claims of MEOR as a mature technology. Despite those facts, disagreement still exists. Successful stories are specific for each MEOR field application, and published information regarding supportive economical advantages is however inexistent. Despite this, there is consensus considering MEOR one of the cheapest existing EOR methods.
“MEOR advantages
“• Injected microbes and nutrients are cheap; easy to handle in the field and independent of oil prices. • Economically attractive for mature oil fields before abandonment. • Increases oil production. • Existing facilities require slight modifications. • Easy application. • Less expensive set up. • Low energy input requirement for microbes to produce MEOR agents. • More efficient than other EOR methods when applied to carbonate oil reservoirs. • Microbial activity increases with microbial growth. This is opposite to the case of other EOR additives in time and distance. • Cellular products are biodegradable and therefore can be considered environmentally friendly.
“MEOR disadvantages
“• The oxygen deployed in aerobic MEOR can act as corrosive agent on non-resistant topside equipment and down-hole piping
“• Anaerobic MEOR requires large amounts of sugar limiting its applicability in offshore platforms due to logistical problems
“• Exogenous microbes require facilities for their cultivation.
“• Indigenous microbes need a standardized framework for evaluating microbial activity, e.g. specialized coring and sampling techniques.
"• Microbial growth is favoured when: layer permeability is greater than 50 md; reservoir temperature is inferior to 80 0C, salinity is below 150 g/L and reservoir depth is less than 2400m.”
View the complete article at:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Microbial_enhanced_oil_recovery
Our research supports your research ... visit us at:
www.JeanSteinhardtConsulting.com
If you are an expert in the field, the table listing the major ventures working MEOR can be useful.
If you are new to the field, the survey of areas of application, problems to be addressed, advantages and disadvantages, etc., can be helpful.
Here are some excerpts from the Wikipedia article on MEOR …
Ventures working in MEOR (Private sector)
Rawwater Engineering Company Ltd
Oppenheimer Biotechnology, Inc.
Titan Oil Recovery, Inc.
Yara International ASA
Circle T Sales and Service Inc.
GloriOil Ltd.
StatoilHydro ASA
Environmental BioTechnologies, Inc.
ONGC-IRS
Rogaland Research
COREC
CIPR
"Several decades of research and successful applications support the claims of MEOR as a mature technology. Despite those facts, disagreement still exists. Successful stories are specific for each MEOR field application, and published information regarding supportive economical advantages is however inexistent. Despite this, there is consensus considering MEOR one of the cheapest existing EOR methods.
“MEOR advantages
“• Injected microbes and nutrients are cheap; easy to handle in the field and independent of oil prices. • Economically attractive for mature oil fields before abandonment. • Increases oil production. • Existing facilities require slight modifications. • Easy application. • Less expensive set up. • Low energy input requirement for microbes to produce MEOR agents. • More efficient than other EOR methods when applied to carbonate oil reservoirs. • Microbial activity increases with microbial growth. This is opposite to the case of other EOR additives in time and distance. • Cellular products are biodegradable and therefore can be considered environmentally friendly.
“MEOR disadvantages
“• The oxygen deployed in aerobic MEOR can act as corrosive agent on non-resistant topside equipment and down-hole piping
“• Anaerobic MEOR requires large amounts of sugar limiting its applicability in offshore platforms due to logistical problems
“• Exogenous microbes require facilities for their cultivation.
“• Indigenous microbes need a standardized framework for evaluating microbial activity, e.g. specialized coring and sampling techniques.
"• Microbial growth is favoured when: layer permeability is greater than 50 md; reservoir temperature is inferior to 80 0C, salinity is below 150 g/L and reservoir depth is less than 2400m.”
View the complete article at:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Microbial_enhanced_oil_recovery
Our research supports your research ... visit us at:
www.JeanSteinhardtConsulting.com
Friday, October 2, 2009
Energy & Environmental Science
We have run across desulfurization items authored or co-authored by Chunshan Song in the past, so when the following article turned up in our search results, we took a closer look. Here is the cite, with brief description extracted from the article.
Energy Environ. Sci., 2009, 2, 878-882
Nanoporous molecular basket sorbent for NO2 and SO2 capture based on a polyethylene glycol-loaded mesoporous molecular sieve
Xiaoxing Wang, Xiaoliang Ma, Shuqi Zhao, Bei Wang and Chunshan Song *
Clean Fuels and Catalysis Program, EMS Energy Institute, Department of Energy & Mineral Engineering, The Pennsylvania State University, 209 Academic Projects Building, University Park, PA 16802, USA. E-mail: csong@psu.edu ; Fax: +1 814 865 3573; Tel: +1 814 863 4466
“Removal of environmentally harmful NO2 and SO2 from various gas streams is important for the protection of human health and the environment, for CO2 capture and sequestration (CCS) and for energy-efficient fuel cell applications. Although there are commercial technologies such as flue gas desulphurization (FGD) for SO2 removal and selective catalytic reduction (SCR) for NO2 removal, alternative and more environmentally benign methods based on solid sorbents with better energy efficiency and easier handling are highly desirable. The present work aims at a new approach based on a polymer-based solid sorbent for removing toxic NO2 and SO2 at room temperature under atmospheric pressure without using catalyst and without involving chemical reactions. We have developed a novel type of nano-porous molecular basket sorbent (MBS) based on polyethylene glycol (PEG)-loaded mesoporous molecular sieve SBA-15 for removing more than 99% of NO2 and SO2 from gas streams at room temperature and atmospheric pressure. The spent sorbent can be regenerated easily and completely by heating to 100 °C. With this new approach, the present study may open a new window for developing environmentally-friendly high-performance solid sorbents for SO2 and NO2 removal from various gas streams.
“Acknowledgements
“This work is supported in part by the US Office of Naval Research (ONR) through the Grant #N00014-08-1-0123, and by the US Department of Energy, National Energy Technology Laboratory through DOE Grant DE-FC26-08NT0004396. We wish to thank Donald Hoffman and John Heinzel of US ONR and Wayne Surdoval and Travis Schultz of US DOE for their support and encouragement.”
View more details at …
http://www.rsc.org/delivery/_ArticleLinking/DisplayHTMLArticleforfree.cfm?JournalCode=EE&Year=2009&ManuscriptID=b906476a&Iss=8
Remember, the first person to turn to when you are pressed for time is your corporate librarian. If your company does not employ a librarian, think of us, Jean Steinhardt Consulting LLC (www.JeanSteinhardtConsulting.com)
Energy Environ. Sci., 2009, 2, 878-882
Nanoporous molecular basket sorbent for NO2 and SO2 capture based on a polyethylene glycol-loaded mesoporous molecular sieve
Xiaoxing Wang, Xiaoliang Ma, Shuqi Zhao, Bei Wang and Chunshan Song *
Clean Fuels and Catalysis Program, EMS Energy Institute, Department of Energy & Mineral Engineering, The Pennsylvania State University, 209 Academic Projects Building, University Park, PA 16802, USA. E-mail: csong@psu.edu ; Fax: +1 814 865 3573; Tel: +1 814 863 4466
“Removal of environmentally harmful NO2 and SO2 from various gas streams is important for the protection of human health and the environment, for CO2 capture and sequestration (CCS) and for energy-efficient fuel cell applications. Although there are commercial technologies such as flue gas desulphurization (FGD) for SO2 removal and selective catalytic reduction (SCR) for NO2 removal, alternative and more environmentally benign methods based on solid sorbents with better energy efficiency and easier handling are highly desirable. The present work aims at a new approach based on a polymer-based solid sorbent for removing toxic NO2 and SO2 at room temperature under atmospheric pressure without using catalyst and without involving chemical reactions. We have developed a novel type of nano-porous molecular basket sorbent (MBS) based on polyethylene glycol (PEG)-loaded mesoporous molecular sieve SBA-15 for removing more than 99% of NO2 and SO2 from gas streams at room temperature and atmospheric pressure. The spent sorbent can be regenerated easily and completely by heating to 100 °C. With this new approach, the present study may open a new window for developing environmentally-friendly high-performance solid sorbents for SO2 and NO2 removal from various gas streams.
“Acknowledgements
“This work is supported in part by the US Office of Naval Research (ONR) through the Grant #N00014-08-1-0123, and by the US Department of Energy, National Energy Technology Laboratory through DOE Grant DE-FC26-08NT0004396. We wish to thank Donald Hoffman and John Heinzel of US ONR and Wayne Surdoval and Travis Schultz of US DOE for their support and encouragement.”
View more details at …
http://www.rsc.org/delivery/_ArticleLinking/DisplayHTMLArticleforfree.cfm?JournalCode=EE&Year=2009&ManuscriptID=b906476a&Iss=8
Remember, the first person to turn to when you are pressed for time is your corporate librarian. If your company does not employ a librarian, think of us, Jean Steinhardt Consulting LLC (www.JeanSteinhardtConsulting.com)
China Desulphurization Industry Report
The China Desulphurization Industry Report, 2008-2009 published by Research In China in July 2009, may be worth the $1700-$2700 USD price tag, for several reasons. One of them is the list of “Key Desulphurization Companies in China.” Here is a sample from that list …
• Beijing Guodian Longyuan Environmental Engineering Co., Ltd
• WuHan KaiDi Electric Power Environmental Co., Ltd
• Beijing Bootes Electric Power Science & Technology Co., Ltd
• Fujian Longking Co., Ltd
• CPI Yuanda Environmental-Protection Engineering Co., Ltd
• Insigma Technology Co., Ltd
• Development of Desulphurization
• Tongfang Environment Co., Ltd
• Shandong SanRong Environmental Protection Engineering Co., Ltd
• Zhejiang Tiandi Environmental Protection Engineering Co., Ltd
• Jiangsu Suyuan Environmental Protection Engineering Co., Ltd
View a description of the contents of the report at …
http://www.researchinchina.com/Htmls/Report/2009/5734.html
Have you ever tried to find an article that a colleague recommends, only to spend two hours Googling® with no results? That’s the kind of thing we can help you find. Visit our Web at www.JeanSteinhardtConsulting.com for more information.
• Beijing Guodian Longyuan Environmental Engineering Co., Ltd
• WuHan KaiDi Electric Power Environmental Co., Ltd
• Beijing Bootes Electric Power Science & Technology Co., Ltd
• Fujian Longking Co., Ltd
• CPI Yuanda Environmental-Protection Engineering Co., Ltd
• Insigma Technology Co., Ltd
• Development of Desulphurization
• Tongfang Environment Co., Ltd
• Shandong SanRong Environmental Protection Engineering Co., Ltd
• Zhejiang Tiandi Environmental Protection Engineering Co., Ltd
• Jiangsu Suyuan Environmental Protection Engineering Co., Ltd
View a description of the contents of the report at …
http://www.researchinchina.com/Htmls/Report/2009/5734.html
Have you ever tried to find an article that a colleague recommends, only to spend two hours Googling® with no results? That’s the kind of thing we can help you find. Visit our Web at www.JeanSteinhardtConsulting.com for more information.
Thursday, October 1, 2009
Search tip: LinkedIn
One purpose of this blog is to help you search more effectively. Today's search tip: a quick way to search for a LinkedIn profile without taking the time to sign in to LinkedIn.
When you read an article by a desulfurization expert and you would like to contact the author for more information, the first step, of course, is to see if there is contact information within the article.
Occasionally, contact information is absent. In that case, you need to do a little research to find a way to contact the author.
Here is a search tip … if you Google® using LinkedIn as a keyword, followed by the author’s name, you will be able to determine quickly if the author has a LinkedIn profile, which gets you a step closer to contact information.
For example, if you did not have contact information for me, you could use the following search string …
Linkedin “jean steinhardt”
The result would be …
Jean Steinhardt - LinkedInView Jean Steinhardt's professional profile on LinkedIn. LinkedIn is the world's largest business network, helping professionals like Jean Steinhardt ...
www.linkedin.com/pub/jean-steinhardt/12/421/870
When you read an article by a desulfurization expert and you would like to contact the author for more information, the first step, of course, is to see if there is contact information within the article.
Occasionally, contact information is absent. In that case, you need to do a little research to find a way to contact the author.
Here is a search tip … if you Google® using LinkedIn as a keyword, followed by the author’s name, you will be able to determine quickly if the author has a LinkedIn profile, which gets you a step closer to contact information.
For example, if you did not have contact information for me, you could use the following search string …
Linkedin “jean steinhardt”
The result would be …
Jean Steinhardt - LinkedInView Jean Steinhardt's professional profile on LinkedIn. LinkedIn is the world's largest business network, helping professionals like Jean Steinhardt ...
www.linkedin.com/pub/jean-steinhardt/12/421/870
Wednesday, September 30, 2009
Why Me?
This is a blog about Desulfurization technology, and so you will see that this post is somewhat off-topic … but I think it is relevant, so here it is …
A company I used to work for implemented a rewards program to support their subscription to the “Balanced Scorecard” theory. One of their reward categories was “cost savings.” Periodically, the president of the company, with much fanfare, congratulated the winner of the “cost savings” initiative. The lucky recipient of the award won a $100 bonus check.
On one such occasion it occurred to me that I could suggest something that would save the company a LOT of money … just go out of business! That would save TONS of money! Fortunately. my inner voice told me that this would (A) not result in a prize and (B) would result in the loss of my job. So I said nothing.
And now to my point … any successful businessman knows that SAVING money is not why he is in business. He is in business to MAKE money. To MAKE money, you need to use your available resources in the most effective way to maximize profit.
If your business employs highly skilled, and therefore highly paid, scientists and engineers, to MAKE money you need to be sure that their time is engaged in the pursuit of science and engineering … NOT in Googling for the information that they need to pursue the science and engineering that makes you money.
That is why you …
(A) Employ a librarian to support your scientists and engineers, OR …
(B) Engage the services of an Independent Information Professional like Jean Steinhardt Consulting LLC
If you do, you will save money … but you will save money STRATEGICALLY.
P.S. The company in question no longer exists. It was acquired as part of a strategic realignment by another company (AECOM) which seems to understand the concept of making money.
Visit Jean Steinhardt's LinkedIn profile at ...
www.linkedin.com/pub/jean-steinhardt/12/421/870
A company I used to work for implemented a rewards program to support their subscription to the “Balanced Scorecard” theory. One of their reward categories was “cost savings.” Periodically, the president of the company, with much fanfare, congratulated the winner of the “cost savings” initiative. The lucky recipient of the award won a $100 bonus check.
On one such occasion it occurred to me that I could suggest something that would save the company a LOT of money … just go out of business! That would save TONS of money! Fortunately. my inner voice told me that this would (A) not result in a prize and (B) would result in the loss of my job. So I said nothing.
And now to my point … any successful businessman knows that SAVING money is not why he is in business. He is in business to MAKE money. To MAKE money, you need to use your available resources in the most effective way to maximize profit.
If your business employs highly skilled, and therefore highly paid, scientists and engineers, to MAKE money you need to be sure that their time is engaged in the pursuit of science and engineering … NOT in Googling for the information that they need to pursue the science and engineering that makes you money.
That is why you …
(A) Employ a librarian to support your scientists and engineers, OR …
(B) Engage the services of an Independent Information Professional like Jean Steinhardt Consulting LLC
If you do, you will save money … but you will save money STRATEGICALLY.
P.S. The company in question no longer exists. It was acquired as part of a strategic realignment by another company (AECOM) which seems to understand the concept of making money.
Visit Jean Steinhardt's LinkedIn profile at ...
www.linkedin.com/pub/jean-steinhardt/12/421/870
Tuesday, September 29, 2009
Frontiers of Chemical Engineering in China
Thousands of brilliant minds are working on solutions to the technological problems that confront modern civilization. And the brilliance emanates from sources across the globe. For example …
Frontiers of Chemical Engineering in China, 2009, 3(1): 12-19
DOI 10.1007/s11705-009-0151-3
Measurement and correlation of supercritical CO2 and ionic liquid systems for design of advanced unit operations
Hiroshi Machida et al
Department of Chemical Engineering, Research Center of Supercritical Fluid Technology, Tohoku University, Sendai, Japan
"Ionic liquids combined with supercritical fluid technology hold great promise as working solvents for developing compact processes. Ionic liquids, which are organic molten salts, typically have extremely low volatility and high functionality, but possess high viscosities, surface tensions and low diffusion coefficients, which can limit their applicability. CO2, on the other hand, expecially in its supercritical state, is a green solvent that can be used advantageously when combined with the ionic liquid to provide viscosity and surface tension reduction and to promote mass transfer.
"In this work we examine a subset of of available high pressure pure component ionic liquid PVT data and high pressure CO2-ionic liquid solubility data and report new correlations for CO2-ionic liquid systems with equations of state that have some industrial applications including:
(1) general
(2) fuel desulfurization
(3) CO2 capture
(4) chiral separation"
source: http://www.springerlink.com/content/1p47j5q8744u5384/
By the way, if you have ever wondered what the “DOI” designation stands for, it signifies “Digital Object Identifier.” It is a way to uniquely identify each discrete item on the Web, making it easier to cite and find. For example, the DOI for the article above is DOI 10.1007/s11705-009-0151-3. To find your way to the article on Google®, you could search by its title, or you could search by its DOI. Advantage? Usually the DOI search will result in just a handful of highly targeted search results, reducing your browsing time.
Frontiers of Chemical Engineering in China, 2009, 3(1): 12-19
DOI 10.1007/s11705-009-0151-3
Measurement and correlation of supercritical CO2 and ionic liquid systems for design of advanced unit operations
Hiroshi Machida et al
Department of Chemical Engineering, Research Center of Supercritical Fluid Technology, Tohoku University, Sendai, Japan
"Ionic liquids combined with supercritical fluid technology hold great promise as working solvents for developing compact processes. Ionic liquids, which are organic molten salts, typically have extremely low volatility and high functionality, but possess high viscosities, surface tensions and low diffusion coefficients, which can limit their applicability. CO2, on the other hand, expecially in its supercritical state, is a green solvent that can be used advantageously when combined with the ionic liquid to provide viscosity and surface tension reduction and to promote mass transfer.
"In this work we examine a subset of of available high pressure pure component ionic liquid PVT data and high pressure CO2-ionic liquid solubility data and report new correlations for CO2-ionic liquid systems with equations of state that have some industrial applications including:
(1) general
(2) fuel desulfurization
(3) CO2 capture
(4) chiral separation"
source: http://www.springerlink.com/content/1p47j5q8744u5384/
By the way, if you have ever wondered what the “DOI” designation stands for, it signifies “Digital Object Identifier.” It is a way to uniquely identify each discrete item on the Web, making it easier to cite and find. For example, the DOI for the article above is DOI 10.1007/s11705-009-0151-3. To find your way to the article on Google®, you could search by its title, or you could search by its DOI. Advantage? Usually the DOI search will result in just a handful of highly targeted search results, reducing your browsing time.
Monday, September 28, 2009
The Catalyst Review Newsletter
According to its website (http://www.catalystgrp.com/catalystreview.html) …
“The Catalyst Review is a monthly newsletter specially geared for a targeted, busy audience...people who need to stay on top of developments that can affect their business, but don't have a lot of time to do that.
“The Catalyst Review is designed to provide readers with a global overview of events impacting the $10 billion catalyst industry, through selected abstracts, company interviews, and original articles. There is also a special "Rumors" column that gives a view of what's going on behind the scenes too. Reader questions and comments are welcomed, to provide an additional value to subscribers. This reinforces the purpose of The Catalyst Review, which is to provide a timely line on key news and research, in an easy-to-digest format.”
We do not subscribe, but found a sample letter online that looked good (see below), so you might want to take a look.
“The Catalyst Review Newsletter, Special Feature
“Catalysts for Hydroprocessing Heavy Oil
“The development and use of technologies for hydroprocessing of heavy oils have been receiving attention because of the decrease in the amount of light sweet crude oil available for refineries. The imbalance created by the increasing demand for distillate products can only be solved by increasing the upgrading of heavy and residual oils. This favors investment in the development of catalysts for heavy oil conversion and upgrading.
“Of the available possibilities for treatment of heavy oil, hydrogen addition processes lead not only to overall higher liquid yields but also high hydrogen consumption. These processes, which provide the feedstock for the subsequent fluid catalytic cracking, require the use of well designed catalysts capable of dealing with the high concentrations of metals and asphaltene constituents in the feedstock. Moreover, the multifunctional catalysts used for hydrocracking processes (Figure 1) become poisoned by coke deposition and the heavy metals present in the feed create a hazardous waste, which has to be disposed properly. A high catalyst demetallization function is necessary and the concentration of nitrogen compounds must be taken to a minimum to avoid poisoning of the catalyst acid sites in subsequent processes."
View the full text of the May, 2008 edition of the Catalyst Review Newsletter at ...
http://www.catalystgrp.com/pdffiles/0508CatalystReview.pdf
And remember ... we provide the research that helps you do your research.
Visit our web at www.JeanSteinhardtConsulting.com
“The Catalyst Review is a monthly newsletter specially geared for a targeted, busy audience...people who need to stay on top of developments that can affect their business, but don't have a lot of time to do that.
“The Catalyst Review is designed to provide readers with a global overview of events impacting the $10 billion catalyst industry, through selected abstracts, company interviews, and original articles. There is also a special "Rumors" column that gives a view of what's going on behind the scenes too. Reader questions and comments are welcomed, to provide an additional value to subscribers. This reinforces the purpose of The Catalyst Review, which is to provide a timely line on key news and research, in an easy-to-digest format.”
We do not subscribe, but found a sample letter online that looked good (see below), so you might want to take a look.
“The Catalyst Review Newsletter, Special Feature
“Catalysts for Hydroprocessing Heavy Oil
“The development and use of technologies for hydroprocessing of heavy oils have been receiving attention because of the decrease in the amount of light sweet crude oil available for refineries. The imbalance created by the increasing demand for distillate products can only be solved by increasing the upgrading of heavy and residual oils. This favors investment in the development of catalysts for heavy oil conversion and upgrading.
“Of the available possibilities for treatment of heavy oil, hydrogen addition processes lead not only to overall higher liquid yields but also high hydrogen consumption. These processes, which provide the feedstock for the subsequent fluid catalytic cracking, require the use of well designed catalysts capable of dealing with the high concentrations of metals and asphaltene constituents in the feedstock. Moreover, the multifunctional catalysts used for hydrocracking processes (Figure 1) become poisoned by coke deposition and the heavy metals present in the feed create a hazardous waste, which has to be disposed properly. A high catalyst demetallization function is necessary and the concentration of nitrogen compounds must be taken to a minimum to avoid poisoning of the catalyst acid sites in subsequent processes."
View the full text of the May, 2008 edition of the Catalyst Review Newsletter at ...
http://www.catalystgrp.com/pdffiles/0508CatalystReview.pdf
And remember ... we provide the research that helps you do your research.
Visit our web at www.JeanSteinhardtConsulting.com
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