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News and Views

chlorofluorocarbon and chlorinated solvents, but themanufacturing process itself still gives rise to publicconcern.

The membrane-based process has a growing shareof production capacity (it is already used by 80% ofJapanese capacity). One estimate at the symposiumwas that it accounts for 16% of world sodiumhydroxide production and could supply as much ashalf the total production in another ten years.

Asahi Glass chlor­alkali developmentsA new membrane which would allow production ofsodium hydroxide at 50% concentration in theelectrolvser cell is under development. according toTetsuva Uchino of Asahi Glass. This would reduceor eliminate the need to concentrate the cell product.The cell would also have higher current efficiency.

Mr. Uchino also indicated that Asahi Glass is alsoconsidering a membrane process which wouldproduce caustic soda without any co-productchlorine. One possible route is electrolysis of sodiumsulphate solution with the use of a bipolarmembrane. Although problems remain such as thedegree of concentration of the product, Asahi Glassstrongly expect the process to gain commercial use.

Loneliness of thelong-distancemembraneElectrolyser cells using ICI's FM21 membranetechnology have now operated continuously withoutrequiring a major overhaul for five years, surpassingthe three years commonly used as the periodbetween refurbishments, according to the company.Three of the four plants where this has beenachieved are located in Scandinavia, the other (withdifferent environmental factors) in Malaysia. BothDu Pont's Nafion perfluorinated membranes and theFlemion membranes manufactured bv Asahi Glassare used in the long-running cells. '

£1.25 million for newpolymer researchICI. Unilever Research, 3M, the Davy Corporationand Trinity College Cambridge are each contributing

£250,000 over the next five to seven years to fund apolymer synthesis laboratory at CambridgeUniversity, UK. The intention is to study thefundamental relationships between molecularstructure and polymer properties. On the basis ofthis work, novel polymers with desirable functionalor structural characteristics will then be designedand synthesised.

The money will pay for some of the initialresearch projects as well as for equipment,refurbishment of labs and salaries. Othergovernmental and industrial sources will beapproached for funding and the four companies willcommission additional research for their ownpurposes. The five sponsors have reached agreementover sharing the intellectual property rights whichwill result from the lab's research.

Colloid scienceinitiativeA Science and Engineering Research Councilinitiative to study complex fluids such as colloids iscurrently under discussion. Past research has beencharacterised as industry-led and mission-oriented.A LINK scheme, possibly involving ICI, Unilever andBP, may also be established in the near future.

Advances in experimental techniques such assynchrotron radiation and neutron scattering havemade possible the study of the fundamental scienceof complex fluids, which include polymer solutionsand gels. The initiative will investigate the structureof molecular aggregates and develop moresophisticated theories for the behaviour of complexfluids. The hope is these can be used to design andmake novel complex fluids.

Althin acquires Dowmedical groupDow Chemical Co and Althin Medical AB, Lund,Sweden, have finalised an agreement for Althin toacquire CD Medical, a wholly owned subsidiary ofDow.

CD Medical, located in Miami Lakes, Florida,manufactures membranes, membrane devices andequipment used in the medical industry, particularlyfor renal care applications. The company, whichintroduced the hollow fibre artificial kidney, hasannual sales in the region of $60 million.

Anders Althin, founder and president of theSwedish company, is reported to have said that thetransaction considerably strengthens the structure ofAlthin Medical, because of positive synergies withAlthiri's European sales operations.

Membrane Technology