Articles

Solids Processing: Discover Lost Opportunities

With simple operations, we either get complacent or fail to look for an alternate route. Four situations point out big misses.

How Much Do Chemical Engineers Make in 2024? Chemical Industry Salaries Continue to Rise

Nov. 19, 2024
Annual survey reveals continued positive job outlook and earnings despite a dip in hiring.

How Will Trump Impact Regulations?

Nov. 18, 2024
Let us know how the upcoming Donald J. Trump administration may impact your company.

Tackle Tricky Kettle Reboiler Issues

Andrew Sloley examines kettle-reboiler failures and offers solutions.

Fertilizing Mrs. Newton’s Hedge and a World Cup Winner

Nov. 13, 2024
Nearly 60 years ago, England triumphed over Germany and a boy may have unknowingly fertilized a neighbor's shrub.

Biomanufacturing: The Next Frontier for Chemical Processing?

Nov. 11, 2024
Chemical processing companies are well-positioned for a biomanufacturing revolution.

Election 2024 Recap: Chemical Industry Sees Regulatory Relief in Trump's Return

Nov. 8, 2024
As manufacturers welcome a potential rollback of Biden-era rules, experts warn companies must still answer to shareholders and customers on environmental commitments.

Barry on Batteries: The Chemical Engineer's Guide to Battery Recycling Innovation

Nov. 8, 2024
From direct recycling to novel leaching agents, metallurgical processes are evolving to better recover valuable materials from spent lithium-ion batteries — creating new opportunities...

Time Management Strategies for Engineers and Operators

Nov. 6, 2024
5 tips to improve individual performance and contribute to the overall success of your facility.

From Runoff to Resource: Reimagining Stormwater Management

Nov. 5, 2024
The chemical industry shifts from costly threats to sustainable water management opportunities.

Special Series — Chemical Industry Workforce: Shaping Tomorrow's Talent

Nov. 4, 2024
An in-depth look at the state of the chemical industry workforce and its future.

Energy Saver: Variable Speed Drives Boost Chemical Plant Efficiency

Nov. 4, 2024
VSDs deliver up to 50% energy savings in chemical manufacturing while laying groundwork for smart factory operations.

EPA Extends PFAS Reporting Deadline to 2026

Lynn Bergeson explains how software development delays prompt eight-month extension, giving manufacturers and importers crucial extra time to prepare for complex TSCA requirements...

What is Trending in the Chemical Industry October 2024?

Nov. 1, 2024
Unlikely allies in sustainability, a fatal chemical leak, an averted dock-worker strike, and BASF’s hall-of-famer round out the top stories on reader lists.

Chemical Processing Notebook: Covestro's Long Road to Circularity

Oct. 28, 2024
Supply chain gaps and infrastructure hurdles stand between the chemical industry and its circular future, says Covestro's Tim Thiel, but strategic investments and emerging technologies...

Project Management: Stay on Track Despite Supply Chain Holes

Plant InSites columnist Andrew Sloley shares five sound ways to keep projects moving forward.

Picture Pump Efficiency in Terms of Trees and Cars

Oct. 25, 2024
Think about energy efficiency in terms of things you can really measure: horsepower and kilowatts.

What Makes a Good Cyber Defense Strategy?

Oct. 23, 2024
Human error accounts for 82% of data breaches. It’s important to identify vulnerabilities.

Operator Training: Tap New Ways to Boil Down Experience

Oct. 22, 2024
With the right tools, training is just condensed experience.

What Is the Best Way to Manage Transient Operations to Achieve Process Safety? 6 Steps to Follow

Transient operations occur when transitioning between operating states and are often the most hazardous periods in a chemical facility.

Podcast: What Makes an Expert in the Chemical Industry?

Oct. 18, 2024
It's not just about knowing more facts. Discover the 13 key characteristics that set real experts apart, from forming expectancies to mental simulations.

Mastering Gas Chromatography: Unlocking Efficiency with Sample Conditioning and System Design

Oct. 16, 2024
Learn best practices for troubleshooting, minimizing time lags, and safeguarding your system against common pitfalls while ensuring safe, accurate sample analyses.

Podcast: Lessons Learned from the Explosion at the Phillips Petroleum Complex

Oct. 15, 2024
On the 35th anniversary of the deadly event we examine how routine maintenance can go horribly wrong.

Catalyzing the Circular Economy: Challenges and Opportunities

Oct. 14, 2024
As the chemical industry seeks sustainability, catalysts emerge as key drivers for biomass utilization, polymer recycling and pollution remediation.

Leo Baekeland’s Aldehydes and the Toxic Smell of New Automobiles

Oct. 11, 2024
Explore Leo Baekeland’s impact on the auto industry and how that much-loved “new car smell” is actually a cocktail of volatile organic compounds . . . cue the headache now.

Manufacturing's Talent Hunt: Strategies for the Next Generation

Oct. 11, 2024
Business journalists reveal tactics their audiences use to attract younger workers to manufacturing careers.

Catalyst Boosts Conversion of Propane to Polypropylene

Oct. 9, 2024
New catalyst breakthrough could mean cheaper, greener polypropylene production.

Process Safety: Knowledge Is Power – Or Is It?

What’s more powerful than knowledge? The world's leading safety centers are banding together to answer just that.

Prevent Backflow into Vacuum Towers During Upsets

Modifying vacuum systems using a sealed vent leg in the hot-well improves safety and reliability.

Canada Announces PFAS Mandatory Survey

The reporting aims to compile detailed data on PFAS manufacturing, imports, and usage, which will influence future regulations.

Cooling Towers: A Critical but Often Neglected Plant Component – Part 1

Oct. 1, 2024
The first article in this three-part series discusses the importance of cooling towers in chemical process applications and fundamental design details.

How They Made it Work: HRS Biogas Dehumidification System

Sept. 30, 2024
Turning wastewater to useful biogas.

Build Trust and Collaboration in Multidisciplinary Teams

Sept. 27, 2024
Prioritizing open communication, psychological safety and leadership fosters stronger teamwork, innovation and risk reduction in diverse, multidisciplinary environments.

Trending News: Pipeline Fire; Exxon Goes To Court; In Memoriam to Industry Innovator

Sept. 27, 2024
What were the hot topics in September 2024? Executive Editor Jon Katz runs through all the attention-getters.

Energy Saver: The Organic Rankine Cycle Revolution

Sept. 25, 2024
This thermodynamic cycle that converts low-grade heat into electricity could be the key to energy efficiency.

Chemical Industry Counters Terror Threats with Boundary Protection

Sept. 24, 2024
From AI-powered cameras to crash-proof gates, manufacturers deploy cutting-edge defenses as CFATS expires.

Diversity Isn’t a Dirty Word

Sept. 23, 2024
BASF and Suncor buck the trend of ditching DEI programs proving they are tied to innovation and success.

Vacuum Conveying Moves the Meter on Safety and Efficiency

Sept. 20, 2024
Vacuum conveying systems automate the movement of dry materials, offering numerous benefits in industrial processes.

Podcast: Process Safety Meets Nancy Drew, James Bond and MacGyver

Sept. 17, 2024
In this episode of Process Safety with Trish and Traci we interview Fiona Erskine, an engineer and crime novelist who has a passion for process safety.

How They Made it Work: Cognite Data Fusion for Disaster Preparedness

Sept. 16, 2024
How data modeling and advanced analytics can help manufacturing facilities lower risks during hurricane season

Podcast: Importance of Testing Operator Knowledge

Sept. 13, 2024
The Center for Operator Performance developed a validated 47-question test on distillation knowledge administered across multiple companies. The test revealed variations in knowledge...

Chemical Processing Book Club: Clean Up Contaminated Sites and Hopefully Avoid Lawsuits

Sept. 11, 2024
David L. Russell says that mistakes caused by incompetence lead to expensive and incomplete cleanups. His book seeks to change that.

EPA Publishes Compliance Guide on Methylene Chloride

The EPA issued a compliance guide for its final methylene chloride risk management rule under TSCA to help stakeholders understand its requirements.

Chemistry History Lesson: From Anti-Plague Elixirs to a Precious Nose That Wasn’t

Sept. 6, 2024
Danish scientist Tycho Brahe took many of his experiments to his grave. However, researchers from the University of Southern Denmark have found clues that shed light on his mysterious...

Opinion: How a SCOTUS Decision on Fisheries Influences the Chemical Industry

Sept. 5, 2024
SCOTUS ruling limits agency power, impacting regulations. Chemical industry faces potential changes in safety and environmental standards.

Recirculating Feed Boosts Isoporous Membrane Efficiency

Sept. 4, 2024
Researchers at Argonne National Laboratory achieved ultra-high-resolution solute separation with defect-free silicon nitride isoporous membranes, offering unprecedented precision...

Workforce Matters: Recognizing Change’s Role in Safety Incidents

Sept. 3, 2024
Adopting a proactive approach can help significantly reduce the likelihood of accidents and enhance operational efficiency.

Chemical Processing Notebook: The Great Talent Tug-of-War

Sept. 3, 2024
A veteran recruiter reveals how mortgage rates, tech industry poaching and evolving worker preferences are reshaping the chemical-engineering job market.

How They Made It Work: Emerson’s Micro Motion G-Series Coriolis Flow and Density Meters

Aug. 30, 2024
The Micro Motion G-Series Coriolis flow and density meters fit confined spaces.

Trending News: Whiskey for the Win, Eco-Friendly Ammonia Reactor, Launch of Workforce Series

Aug. 30, 2024
The top trending news stories from August 2024 as reported on ChemicalProcessing.com.

Optimizing Centrifugal Pumps: A Blueprint for Chemical Processing Success

Aug. 28, 2024
Mastering selection, operation and troubleshooting to enhance plant efficiency and reduce downtime.

Barry on Batteries: Adapting Hydromet for the Evolving Battery Market

Aug. 26, 2024
As the battery landscape shifts, recyclers must embrace flexibility to handle both lithium-ion and lithium-iron-phosphate chemistries.

Process Safety: It’s Not Impossible That It’s Possible

Our tendency to underestimate the likelihood of rare occurrences can lead us to dismiss the possibility of process safety incidents.

Plant InSites: The Importance of Hot-Oil System Cleaning

One plant’s struggle with an evaporator system could have been avoided with proper maintenance.