Globalization polymer manufacturing

One of the major uses of activated carbon is in the recovery of solvents from industrial process effluents. Dry cleaning, paints, adhesives, polymer manufacturing, and printing are some examples. Since, as a result of the highly volatile character of many solvents, they cannot be emitted directly into the atmosphere. Typical solvents recovered by active carbon are acetone, benzene, ethanol, ethyl ether, pentane, methylene chloride, tetrahydrofuran, toluene, xylene, chlorinated hydrocarbons, and other aromatic compounds [78], Besides, automotive emissions make a large contribution to urban and global air pollution. Some VOCs and other air contaminants are emitted by automobiles through the exhaust system and also by the fuel system, and activated carbons are used to control these emissions [77,78],... 

The number of polymer blend patents issued each year has continued to increase rapidly (see Fig. 3). In 1993 it will reach 3()00 (> 50 % from 26 major polymer manufacturers in Japan), representing the outcome of multi-billion dollar investments in industrial research. Obviously, to justify these expenditures, the blends must provide appropriate returns. Indeed, some of these materials achieved spectacular financial success. It was reported that by 1982 the annual global sales of PPE/PS blends exceeded US 1 billion. 

Prodnction of Nylon-6 from caprolactam is an important global industrial process. Of the several billions of pounds of caprolactam produced armually, most is polymerized to Nylon-6 [1]. Nylon-6 polymer is used in the manufacture of carpets, automotive parts and sporting goods as well as in films and packaging. 

Most of the research accomplished to date on source flux rates has been directed toward landmines. This is generally because global publicity has focused attention, and hence funding, on them. Other ERWs are acknowledged, but similar measurements are more limited. We can recognize that many of the same processes will be operative. However, since landmines are intended to be placed, most often, by hand, they can be manufactured effectively from various polymer materials, rather than steel. 

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