Technology broad range of hydrocarbons. The feedstock is synthesis gas, presum ably to be derived from coal. The principal hydrocarbons of interest are ethylene and propylene. The sup plementary tasks include a broad catalyst screening program and de velopment of efficient gas separation processes based on membranes. The principal separations would include hydrogen from carbon monoxide and from product gases for recycle. The three major chemicals selected for development have all used rhodium catalysts in the past, and specific at tention has been given to finding a substitute catalyst that is less ex pensive. The organizational mechanism for the RACC program involves dividing the individual projects among the 14 participants in RACC, with the Na
tional Chemical Laboratory for In dustry participating as an indepen dent partner. The laboratory will concentrate most of its effort on membrane development and on gen eral catalyst development. There is no doubt about the seri ousness with which the Japanese have entered into the RACC program. There is considerable doubt that they will acquire scientific and technical know-how from foreign industries as easily as they apparently had thought. The economic bind the Japanese find themselves in as a re sult of high oil prices is common throughout the world. Among other things, high oil prices suddenly have made Ci know-how an equally valu able commodity, and one that may be traded but seldom given away. Joseph Haggin, Chicago
Filtration equipment becoming big business The U.S. market for filter and sepa rator substrates is a sizable one. In 1980, it accounted for more than $1.8 billion in wet and dry media and fabricated filter element sales. This is the collective figure for the industry, which is analyzed in a new market study prepared by John A. McTaggart, director of Tag Market ing Associates, Erie, Pa. The study covers the key dynamics of the filtration media and filter ele ment business—among them, the new technology receiving significant commercial acceptance, marketing activities that account for product acceptance, and emerging new prod uct and market areas that will ac count for high-growth—"fasttrack"—businesses in filtration. In its examination, the study finds the $1.8 billion sales volume to be accounted for by four major product categories. Commodity filter media—woven and nonwoven fabrics, glass, paper, metal, and filter aids— account for $488 million. Specialty filtration and separation—mem branes, elements, modules, and the like—make up $175 million. Micronic rated cartridges add up to $833 mil lion. And air filtration products— dust collection bags, modules, car tridges, and the like—account for $340 million. The study also identifies four fast-track product areas. One is microfiltration membranes. Industry sales in this area, the study finds, in creased from $32 million to $35 mil lion in 1973 to $125 million in 1980. Among those market segments with high growth are electronics, at 30%
per year, and hospital/laboratory pure water, at 25% per year. Another of these product areas is microfiberglass media. The study notes that these media in paper form have attained high growth in cleanroom (high efficiency particulate ab solute, or HEPA-type) filters, highefficiency air filters, membrane prefilters, lab filters, fluid power applications, and coalescers. The starved electrolyte battery is under development and may be a big user of microfiberglass paper. A third fast-track area is specialty cartridges. Here, the study finds, sales of high-pressure hydraulic filters have grown from $8 million in 1973 to $45 million in 1980. High-pressure hy draulic filters, it notes, allow for more energy-efficient design as well as a reduction in maintenance costs. The study also notes that new coreless cartridges solve the problem of dis posal and high dirt-holding capacity. From zero sales in 1975, spray-spun media in cartridge form have reached sales of more than $2 million in 1980 with only two suppliers. The fourth fast-track area is gas/ gas separators. Numerous firms, the study says, are developing gas/gas separators for hydrogen recovery and as a carbon dioxide and hydrogen sulfide separator in tertiary oil re covery. Sales of gas/gas separation systems, which were $10 million after the first year in 1980, may reach $75 million by 1985. The full study can be purchased for $4500 from Tag Marketing Asso ciates, Suite 333,1611 Peach St., Erie, Pa. 16501. D
1982 USB
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Nov. 16, 1981 C&EN
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