Productivity Improvements

Furthermore, deeper hydrotreating is increasingly necessary to reduce SO emissions and to improve product quality ... 

The modified Reppe process was installed by Rohm and Haas at thek Houston plant in 1948 and later expanded to a capacity of about 182 X 10 kg/yr. Rohm and Haas started up a propylene oxidation plant at the Houston site in late 1976. The combination of attractive economics and improved product purity from the propylene route led to a shutdown of the acetylene-based route within a year. 

At the completion of adsorption, the less selectively adsorbed components have been recovered as product. However, a significant quantity of the weaMy adsorbed species are held up in the bed, especially in the void spaces. A cocurrent depressurization step reduces the bed pressure by allowing dow out of the bed cocurrendy to feed dow and thus reduces the amount of product retained in the voids (holdup), improving product recovery, and increases the concentration of the more strongly adsorbed components in the bed. The purity of the more selectively adsorbed species has been shown to depend strongly on the cocurrent depressurization step for some appHcations (66). A cocurrent depressurization step is optional because a countercurrent one always exists. Criteria have been developed to indicate when the use of both is justified (67). 

Some fabrication processes, such as continuous panel processes, are mn at elevated temperatures to improve productivity. Dual-catalyst systems are commonly used to initiate a controlled rapid gel and then a fast cure to complete the cross-linking reaction. Cumene hydroperoxide initiated at 50°C with benzyl trimethyl ammonium hydroxide and copper naphthenate in combination with tert-huty octoate are preferred for panel products. Other heat-initiated catalysts, such as lauroyl peroxide and tert-huty perbenzoate, are optional systems. Eor higher temperature mol ding processes such as pultmsion or matched metal die mol ding at temperatures of 150°C, dual-catalyst systems are usually employed based on /-butyl perbenzoate and 2,5-dimethyl-2,5-di-2-ethyIhexanoylperoxy-hexane (Table 6). 

J. W. Carson, T. A. Royal, and R. J. Hossfeld, "Tumble Blending with Mass Flow Containers Improves Productivity and QuaUty," Powder Handl Proc. (Nov. 1994). 

Sodium alum occurs naturally as the mineral mendo2ite. Commercially, it is produced by the addition of a sodium sulfate solution to aluminum sulfate. Small amounts of potassium sulfate, sodium siUcate, and soda ash can be added to improve product handling and performance. After adjustment of the ratio of aluminum sulfate to sodium sulfate, water is evaporated to give a hard cake ia the cooling pans. This cake is further heated ia roasters and ground to a fineness of 99% through a 100-mesh (- 150 fiva) sieve. 

When surfactant-coated glass fibers are included to improve product flexibility and reduce thermal expansion, these semibatch processes are termed reinforced reaction injection mol ding (RRIM). 

Sucrose is often used as a decorative agent to impart a pleasing appearance to baked goods and confections (36). In jams and jeUies, sugar raises osmotic pressure and lowers water activity to prevent spoilage (18). Sucrose is a fermentation substrate for lactic acid in cultured buttermilk (40) and lowers the freezing point of ice cream and other frozen desserts to improve product mouthfeel and texture. 

The trend toward lower proof beverages will also likely continue because of new consumer preferences, cost reduction, and tax savings opportunities. Pressures to improve production efficiencies and lower costs will increase and new technology must play a greater role in this area. Distilled beverages have been produced for several thousands of years and will continue to be consumed in an ever increasing variety of forms and packages. 

Statistical quality control is used to first measure and then continuously improve product quality. For example, The Dow Chemical Company s average 1989 performance compared to the typical sales specification were purity, = 99.65 wt % color, APHA = 4 acid (as HCl) = 7.3 ppm and water = 26 ppm. Averages of properties were based on rail car and tank tmck shipment samples during 1989. 

Chlorination with Other Reagents. Chlorotoluenes can also be obtained in good yields by the reaction of toluene with stoichiometric proportions of certain Lewis acid chlorides such as inon(III) chloride, as the chlorinating agent (51). Generally, the product mixture contains /)-chlorotoluene as the principal component. Several modifications have been proposed to improve product yields (52,53). 

With higher mol ding speeds and higher temperature resins, the demand for thermal stabiUty is increasing. As plastics replace metals in automotive apphcations, weatherabihty and service-temperature requkements are sharply increased. SuppHers are responding with improved products. 

In 1988, a comprehensive report on the technology and competitiveness of the U.S. copper industry was issued (54). This report concludes that the revitalized U.S. copper industry could compete in all but the worst foreseeable markets and that the industry s turnaround came entirely from its own efforts, with Httie governmental assistance. The U.S. copper industry is a world leader in smelter and refinery production, applying modem technology and measures to improve productivity. 

The appearance of synthetic fibers in the 1920s accelerated the further development of anthraquinone dyes. Soon after British Celanese succeeded in commerciali2ing cellulose acetate fiber in 1921, anthraquinone disperse dyes for this fiber were invented by Stepherdson (British Dyestuffs Corp.) and Celatenes (Scottish Dyes) independendy. Anthraquinone disperse dyes for polyester fiber were developed after the introduction of this fiber by ICI and Du Pont in 1952. These dyes were improved products of the disperse dyes that had been developed for cellulose acetate fiber 30 years before. 

There are important economic consequences of a process being out of control for example, product waste and customer dissatisfaction. Hence, statistical process control does provide a way to continuously monitor process performance and improve product quahty. A typic process may go out of control due to several reasons, including... 

Labor productivity is very much dependent on the health and well-being of the workers and also on the availability of laborsaving tools and construction equipment. The frequency of strikes, hohdays, slowdowns, and pohtical unrest will also depress productivity. Closed-shop practices or demarcation disputes will also affect the productivity of labor. The use of standard equipment, parts, and methods tends to improve productivity. 

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