• Traci Purdum

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    Editor-in-Chief

    Traci Purdum, an award-winning business journalist with extensive experience covering manufacturing and management issues, is a graduate of the Kent State University School of Journalism and Mass Communication, Kent, Ohio, and an alumnus of the Wharton Seminar for Business Journalists, Wharton School of Business, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia.

    What’s Going On? Water Scarcity, Tariff Hopes and Controversial Cleanup at Bhopal

    Traci Purdum
    March 21, 2025
    Fellow Endeavor Business Media editors cover topics germane to Chemical Processing, and a CP source sounds off on incinerating Bhopal’s toxic waste.

    Learning Objectives: Measurable Skills, Not Vague Knowledge

    Traci Purdum
    March 21, 2025
    Unlike unclear goals like "understand distillation," effective objectives specify demonstrable skills.

    What’s Going On? Politics, Tariffs, Regulations and Beer

    Traci Purdum
    March 14, 2025
    Policies shift as decarbonization, tariffs and oil demand reshape industries. Cheers!

    EPA, Lawmakers Reconsider Chemical Reviews Amid Spending Scrutiny

    Traci Purdum
    March 11, 2025
    EPA launches rulemaking to streamline chemical reviews, promising to protect health, while Congress looks to remove EPA restrictions on new chemicals and the EPA’s spending faces...

    The Four Cs of Effective Process Safety Storytelling

    Traci Purdum
    March 11, 2025
    Embrace new ways of safety communication because if we keep doing the same thing, we will keep getting the same results.

    Chemical Industry Safeguards Questioned Once Again

    Traci Purdum
    March 7, 2025
    Trump administration seeks to reassess elements of Biden- and Obama-era rules.

    Slideshow: Most Read in February 2025

    Traci Purdum
    March 3, 2025
    From tariffs, energy-smart water processing, TSCA reform and tracking historical pollution, readers had a lot to consider.

    Braskem Shifts to Gas, Expands Capacity

    Traci Purdum
    Feb. 28, 2025
    Braskem faces continuing challenges from a prolonged petrochemical downturn and increased imports.

    Ethylene Oxide: ‘Save A Lot of CO2 And A Lot of Money’

    Traci Purdum
    Feb. 21, 2025
    Nickel-silver catalyst makes toxic chemical production safer, greener.

    Podcast: Job Analysis Flaws and How To Fix Them

    Traci Purdum
    Feb. 21, 2025
    Effective analysis should focus on specific behaviors, consider environmental factors and adapt to technological changes.

    Understand Key Updates to the Hazard Communication Standard

    Traci Purdum
    Feb. 14, 2025
    HazCom 2024 introduced changes across multiple facets of the standard.

    Can an AI Copilot Streamline HAZOPs?

    Traci Purdum
    Feb. 11, 2025
    A former Formula One engineer has developed an AI copilot that can suggest questions, reference incident databases and provide support. But don’t worry, humans still have the ...

    Recycling Plant Uses Superheated Water to Tackle Plastic Waste

    Traci Purdum
    Feb. 7, 2025
    The 30-minute process converts plastic into various hydrocarbon products.

    Celebrate National Periodic Table Day

    Traci Purdum
    Feb. 7, 2025
    Work that began in the 1800s is still going strong with the help of a teacher, Motörhead and hypothetical, superheavy elements yet to be discovered.

    EPA Confirms New Boss Lee Zeldin

    Traci Purdum
    Jan. 31, 2025
    Before leading the EPA, Zeldin served in the U.S. House of Representatives. Here’s how he voted for the environment and industry.

    The Life-Saving Science of Teamwork

    Traci Purdum
    Jan. 29, 2025
    The science of effective teams isn't about trust falls and team lunches — it's about survival.

    Two Former American Chemistry Council Employees Appointed to EPA

    Traci Purdum
    Jan. 24, 2025
    Industry insiders return to U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, signaling potential shifts in regulations.

    Podcast: Get the Most Out of Training Dollars Via Instructional System Design

    Traci Purdum
    Jan. 24, 2025
    ISD is a systematic training approach to improve efficiency and effectiveness in industrial training.

    Podcast: Job Hazard Analysis Makeover -- 5 Crucial Steps

    Traci Purdum
    Jan. 21, 2025
    Safety experts share strategies to revitalize job hazard analysis programs. A piece of paper won’t save your life, but what’s on that paper could.

    PCB Lawsuits Threaten Bayer's Future

    Traci Purdum
    Jan. 17, 2025
    Bayer faces mounting legal pressure as $100 million PCB verdict adds to billions in environmental lawsuit costs.

    Podcast: 6 Process Safety Pearls of Wisdom

    Traci Purdum
    Jan. 7, 2025
    We’ve extracted a few gems from the 2024 season of Process Safety with Trish & Traci. Listen in as we discuss recurring accidents, emergency systems and organizational learning...

    Podcast: Chemical Industry Leaders Share Wisdom for Success

    Traci Purdum
    Jan. 3, 2025
    Resolve to embrace opportunities, avoid fixation, maintain basic skills, and promote psychological safety.

    Podcast: Butterflies of Bhopal -- Lessons Written in Blood

    Traci Purdum
    Dec. 10, 2024
    Chemical engineer Ramin Abhari’s graphic novels communicate the lessons learned from major process safety incidents.

    BASF’s Anne Berg Credits an Unplanned Career Path for Her Success

    Traci Purdum
    Dec. 6, 2024
    Her journey exemplifies professional growth through curiosity, adaptability and seizing unexpected opportunities.

    What Have We Learned from the Pemex LPG Explosion in Mexico City?

    Traci Purdum
    Nov. 26, 2024
    On the 40th anniversary, it’s paramount to keep the memory of these incidents alive to avoid making the same deadly mistakes.

    Researchers Transform Toxic Tires

    Traci Purdum
    Nov. 22, 2024
    Scientists at the University of Delaware develop a method to remove toxic particles from discarded tires.

    Pemex’s Deadly Incident Points To Poor Alert Systems

    Traci Purdum
    Nov. 20, 2024
    Recent analysis questions whether more can be done to alert first responders and the community in case of emergency.

    Slideshow: Quotable Podcast Quotes

    Traci Purdum
    Nov. 12, 2024
    From the IChemE Safety Centre, the Center for Operator Performance, Suncor Energy and more...folks have a lot to say about the chemical industry.

    Albemarle Cuts Workforce Again

    Traci Purdum
    Nov. 8, 2024
    For the second time in 2024 the Charlotte-based manufacturing company announces layoffs to offset major sales declines.

    Direct Air Capture Reactor Touts Hydrogen Coproduction

    Traci Purdum
    Nov. 1, 2024
    The new reactor design could help solve the pressing problem of emission impacts on the climate and biosphere by enabling more agile and scalable carbon dioxide mitigation strategies...