Skip to main content
Sister Publication Links
  • European Rubber Journal
  • Plastics News
  • Tire Business
Subscribe
  • Login
  • Register
  • Subscribe
  • News
    • Automotive
    • Tire
    • Non-Tire
    • Suppliers
    • Silicone
    • Online Exclusive
    • Latex
    • Technical Notebooks
    • Executive Action
    • Government/Legal
    • Opinion
    • Rubber Division IEC
    • ITEC
    • Blogs
    • Sustainability
    • Products
    • Wacky World of Rubber
  • War in Ukraine
  • Custom
    • Sponsored Content
    • White Papers
  • Resources
    • Directory
    • Classifieds & Mold Mart
  • Data
  • Events
    • RN Events
    • RN Livestreams/Webinars
    • Industry Events
    • Past Events
    • Rubber News M&A Live
    • 2022 Hose & Belt Manufacturers Conference
    • 2022 International Silicone Conference
    • 2022 International Tire Exhibition & Conference (ITEC)
  • Advertise
  • DIGITAL EDITION
MENU
Breadcrumb
  1. Home
  2. News
March 14, 2018 02:00 AM

University of Pittsburgh, Lubrizol working to make chemical manufacturing more efficient

Rachel Abbey McCafferty
Crain's Cleveland Business
  • Tweet
  • Share
  • Share
  • Email
  • More
    Print

    A researcher at the University of Pittsburgh is helping chemical manufacturers, like Wickliffe-based Lubrizol Corp., modernize their plants.

    Goetz Veser, a professor of chemical and petroleum engineering at the university's Swanson School of Engineering, is leading a team of university researchers and researchers from Lubrizol in a four-year, $8 million project, according to a news release. The funding comes from Lubrizol and the U.S. Department of Energy's Rapid Advancement in Process Intensification Deployment Manufacturing Institute.

    While this particular grant project started in 2017, the work between the University of Pittsburgh and Lubrizol got underway about five years ago, according to Cliff Kowall, technical fellow and corporate engineer for process innovation and university collaboration at Lubrizol. The chemical company had wanted to form an ongoing relationship with a nearby university. Today, there's a Lubrizol office embedded at the university, and Kowall teaches there.

    The partnership had been handling individual projects, Kowall said, and had been looking at process intensification: finding ways to do things more efficiently in terms of capital spent, waste produced and more.

    With the RAPID funding, the group is focusing on how to more efficiently make oil additive succinimide, moving from batch processing to continuous processing, the release stated. Kowall said that if the group can show the change works with its products and processes, it could be deployed more broadly across the country. (In the release, Veser noted that this is more common in Europe).

    "Batches are essentially big pots. You put in all the reactants, mix, heat, and pray," Veser said in the release. "They can be as big as 50,000 gallon pots. Controlling this monster of ingredients is difficult. As a result, the efficiency is low, and you can lose a whole batch if something goes wrong."

    Kowall said the lab work is taking place at the University of Pittsburgh, but the scale-up work will be done at a pilot plant at Lubrizol's headquarters in Wickliffe (and if it works, it could serve as an option for expansion for the company in the future).

    The scale-up work is expected to begin by the middle of 2019.

    Letter
    to the
    Editor

    Rubber News wants to hear from its readers. If you want to express your opinion on a story or issue, email your letter to Editor Bruce Meyer at [email protected].

    Most Popular
    1
    Parker-Hannifin to sell Avon, Ohio-based unit for $440 million
    2
    Wacker aims to increase global silicone capacity
    3
    Hankook christens tire proving grounds
    4
    John Carroll explores silicone's history in keynote presentation
    5
    Succession plan, investments build foundation for RubberForm's future
    SIGN UP FOR NEWSLETTERS
    EMAIL ADDRESS

    Please enter a valid email address.

    Please enter your email address.

    Please verify captcha.

    Please select at least one newsletter to subscribe.

    Get our newsletters

    Staying current is easy with Rubber News delivered straight to your inbox, free of charge.

    Subscribe Today

    Subscribe to Rubber News to get the best coverage and leading insights in the industry.

    SUBSCRIBE
    Connect with Us
    • LinkedIn
    • Facebook
    • Twitter

    MISSION

    To serve companies in the global rubber product industry by delivering news, industry insights, opinions and technical information.

    Contact Us

    2291 Riverfront Pkwy, Suite 1000
    Cuyahoga Falls,
    OH 44221

    Customer Service:
    877-320-1726

    Resources
    • About Us
    • Digital Edition
    • Staff
    • Advertise
    • Order Reprints
    • Privacy Policy
    • Privacy Request
    • Terms of Service
    • Careers
    • Ad Choices Ad Choices
    • Sitemap
    Partner Sites
    • Tire Business
    • European Rubber Journal
    • Plastics News
    • Plastics News China
    • Urethanes Technology
    • Automotive News
    • Crain Brands
    Copyright © 1996-2022. Crain Communications, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
    • News
      • Automotive
      • Tire
      • Non-Tire
      • Suppliers
      • Silicone
      • Online Exclusive
      • Latex
      • Technical Notebooks
      • Executive Action
      • Government/Legal
      • Opinion
      • Rubber Division IEC
      • ITEC
      • Blogs
        • Products
        • Wacky World of Rubber
      • Sustainability
    • War in Ukraine
    • Custom
      • Sponsored Content
      • White Papers
    • Resources
      • Directory
      • Classifieds & Mold Mart
    • Data
    • Events
      • RN Events
        • 2022 Hose & Belt Manufacturers Conference
        • 2022 International Silicone Conference
        • 2022 International Tire Exhibition & Conference (ITEC)
      • RN Livestreams/Webinars
      • Industry Events
      • Past Events
      • Rubber News M&A Live
    • Advertise
    • DIGITAL EDITION