Hydrogen is used in numerous refining and petrochemical processes. In refining, hydrogen is needed to upgrade crude oil, which is becoming increasingly heavier and more sour. In petrochemicals, hydrogen is needed as a necessary reactant for various synthesis reactions.
Discovered early in the twentieth century, argon was one of the first rare gases to find commercial application. Making up slightly less than one percent of air, argon is best known for the properties it lacks—color, odor, and taste—and for...
Recent announcements of domestic air separation unit expansions and builds indicate that 2012 is going to be a busy year for the US air gases markets. Changes in the economic landscape during 2011 have led to an increase in demand...
In just the recent past, “Specialty Gases,” to the Independent Gas and Welding Distributor, were considered mysterious and novel. They were to be purchased from and sold as directed by the major gas companies. Independents regarded these gases as too...
Silane (SiH4) is produced by large chemical companies such as Dow Corning (www. dowcorning.com) and is supplied to the end user via tube trailers. One of silane’s primary applications today is in semiconductor manufacturing, where electronic-grade silane is used when applying...
Rare gases, which include krypton (Ke), xenon (Xe), and neon (Ne), are byproducts of air separation units (ASUs) that produce large quantities of oxygen and nitrogen. Historically, to be economically feasible, the rule of thumb was that an ASU must...
The world needs energy—and it will need a lot more of it as we move forward. This presents us with a daunting challenge. Economic development over the coming decades will most likely hinge on the ways we source and...
While 2009 was dominated by the worldwide recession, 2010 saw clear progress towards recovery. In this report we look at 2011, a year in which economic recovery slowed across the globe and a climate of economic uncertainty developed. We examine...
Strength across all oxygen markets as the US pulls out of the recession has led to greater demand for oxygen. Major gas producers in the US have been concentrating on on-site oxygen and nitrogen for new large volume applications such...
Algae are exceptionally gifted chemists and help climate protection. This is because algae take in carbon dioxide (CO2) and sunlight to produce chemicals such as carbohydrates, lipids, and amino acids. In special cases they even produce bioethanol, which is a...
