As wastewater treatment continues to pose challenges around the world, Sean Ottewell reports on a new process based on silica particles coated with nanometre-thin layers of surface active materials is yielding promising results Water treatment remains an issue of major concern for all the process industries and one major supplier is reaping the rewards across a range of industrial activities. Computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulation is a powerful tool for modelling three-dimensional flow from first principles. Delft University of Technology researchers have discovered a method that within few years could drastically change the way water is purified. The existing consistency of different waters can be of a quality which does not meet the requirements for just this water. The world market for sedimentation and centrifugation equipment will rise from US$5billion/yr in 2005 to US$6billion/yr by 2010. Designed to handle a wide variety of chemicals and low-pH process fluids, the Wilden Typhoon plastic mag-drive pumps from Axflow are available from 0.75kW (1HP) through to 3.75kW (5HP). World pump revenues are going to reach US$36billion by 2010, predicts the McIlvaine Company in Pumps: World Markets. Power and water will be two of the biggest drivers. Among the numerous applications for membrane separation technologies, scientists have been challenged mostly by fuel cells. S BES, the lone worker protection specialist, has launched a new alarm unit that activates when it comes into contact with water. The new air velocity transmitter EE75 from E+E Elektronik has been designed for accurate measurement of air speed and gas flow between 0 and 40m/s (0–8000ft/min). Traditional methods for controlling the levels in wet wells, reservoir pump operations and similar applications in the water and waste water treatment industries are not without their problems. However, one water company has eliminated such problems and saved money by using ultrasonic level controllers. Protecting and improving the quality of our environment today requires design solutions that establish compliance with ever-expanding and more stringent regulations. The Urban Waste Water Treatment (UWWT) directive aims to ensure that all significant discharges of sewage are treated before they are discharged either to inland surface waters, groundwaters, estuaries or coastal waters. While monitoring of critical process parameters is essential for field engineers in process industries, the task is often cumbersome when individual parameters are to be recorded manually. next