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 |  July 15, 2026
A new drinking water listing and a $144 million research program signal the health risks are entering the regulatory pipeline, raising the stakes for industry even as the science...
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Dylan Pugh of ExxonMobil and Vincent Servello of AspenTech on stage at Optimize 26 in Houston
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Chemical Processing's Top Stories for June 2026
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Industry News

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plant distillation columns surrounded by greenery indicating conservation concept
A monthlong program combined field conservation work with visits to scientists and petrochemical engineers to showcase environmental and manufacturing career paths.
July 15, 2026
Woodland Pulp
Aerial view of Woodland Pulp mill in Maine
Investigation into the January Woodland Pulp incident identifies missing gas detection, personnel tracking and emergency safeguards that preceded two worker deaths.
July 15, 2026
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Chemical plant pipes over usa flag background.
The proclamation temporarily allows qualifying facilities serving semiconductor, medical device and defense supply chains to comply with pre-2024 EPA emissions standards.
July 14, 2026
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EPA Violation Notice Document Set on Wooden Desk – Environmental Protection Infraction Report
Denka Performance Elastomer settled with federal regulators over hazardous waste violations and dangerous chloroprene emissions at its LaPlace plant, which has been suspended ...
July 14, 2026

Comical Processing

Jerry King
Comical Processing cartoon by Jerry King of Trish and Traci and a platypus
Jerry King has created another great Comical Processing cartoon. We need your captions to tie it all together.
July 15, 2026
Jerry King
Cartoon of workers wearing virtual reality goggles walking outside a chemical facility. Cartoon was created by Jerry King
Congratulations to Richard Davis for penning the winning caption -- kudos!
May 20, 2026
Cartoon created by Jerry King showing an operator in a chemical plant recycling
Congratulations to Chuck Lewis for writing the funny caption for Jerry King's cartoon.
March 25, 2026
Jerry King
Comical Processing cartoon from Jerry King showing operators shoveling money into a furnace.
Congratulations to K.ambal Ram Mohan Rao for penning the winning caption.
Jan. 13, 2026

Utilities/Energy

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Gas steam boilers in an industrial boiler room.
The third installment of our makeup water series examines how sodium softeners work, how they are regenerated, and why neglecting their upkeep can lead to costly and potentially...
June 5, 2026
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Kilowatt hours meter with engineering 101 overlaid on image
Getting the kW right is only half the equation — here's why watt density is the real key to heater reliability and longevity.
May 25, 2026
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Composite image of three renewable energy sources: solar panels, wind turbines, and a hydroelectric dam.
Chemical manufacturers explain how they are using renewable energy to cut emissions, manage costs and reduce exposure to an uncertain energy market.
May 8, 2026
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Air compressors at an industrial plant
From moisture control to energy savings, compressed air quality affects everything on the production floor.
March 16, 2026

Workforce & Training

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A factory worker in a hard hat and safety glasses monitors a control panel with red LED displays.
Decades of guidance on alarm management exist. So why are control rooms still drowning in noise?
June 12, 2026
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An augmented reality training company is applying a decades-old educational framework to industrial workforces and says most organizations are stopping too soon.
May 1, 2026
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grains of rice in a pile
Complexity theory explains why industrial disasters seem inevitable in hindsight and invisible in the moment — and what operators can do about it.
April 8, 2026
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Dow logo on cell phone with digital AI concept in background
Dow's AI initiative drew praise from some and accusations of ‘AI washing’ from others who question its actual impact on operations and the bottom line.
Feb. 23, 2026

Environmental

EPA Plans PFAS Rule Rollbacks After Court Tosses Chemours Order
The EPA is proposing to rescind and delay regulations on certain PFAS chemicals, citing technicalities and cost savings, sparking debate over public health protections and industry...
June 15, 2026
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Ship & Shore Environmental CEO has spent her career turning environmental compliance into a competitive advantage.
June 9, 2026
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A magnifying glass examining colorful microplastic particles scattered on a dark surface.
From microplastics and greenwashing claims to conflicting state recycling labels, a surge in scientific research and legal action is reshaping the risk landscape for every stakeholder...
May 13, 2026
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Judge's gavel next to an oil barrel
The federal government says Minnesota's effort to hold Exxon Mobil, Koch Industries and the American Petroleum Institute liable for climate damages illegally encroaches on federal...
May 5, 2026

Economics

Justice balance in front of a backdrop of tariff caution tape. Supreme Court Strips Trump's Emergency Tariff Authority
What does the Supreme Court’s decision on Trump's IEEPA tariffs mean for the chemical industry?
Feb. 20, 2026
LG Chem
LG Chem and Toyota Group Partner to Accelerate Cathode Materials Market Entry
Toyota Tsusho acquires a 25% share in LG Chem’s Gumi cathode facility to boost North American battery supply.
Sept. 9, 2025
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The chemical company is appealing the Trump administration's funding cancellation and exploring alternative ways to scale its methanolysis recycling technology at other sites....
Aug. 6, 2025
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clipboard with paper reading 'One Big Beautiful Bill' sits atop American flag
Trade groups praise R&D tax breaks and battery incentives but warn new foreign entity rules and clean energy credit cuts could hinder chemical investment strategies.
Aug. 4, 2025

Learning Resources

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In this webinar, Trish Kerin will discuss the importance of assurances processes and how to make the most effective use of them.
Aug. 4, 2026
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Sponsored
Master regulatory chaos, close PHA gaps, and stay ahead of combustible dust compliance.
June 22, 2026
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Sponsored
Whether you're refining an existing program or starting from scratch, this roundtable delivers frank, peer-to-peer dialogue. Don't miss the conversation that could prevent the...
July 7, 2026
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Sponsored
This webinar takes a deep dive into industrial historians, data lakes, and time-series databases to explain how each system is designed, where it excels, and how they work together...
June 24, 2026

Process Safety With Trish & Traci Podcast

Podcast: GKN Aerospace Incident Offers Lessons in Reactive Hazard Management
Process Safety w/Trish & Traci
Trish Kerin breaks down the runaway reaction that triggered a mass evacuation in Orange County, California, and explains what facilities handling reactive chemicals can learn ...
June 16, 2026
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Google map of 11 refinery fires across four continents
Process Safety w/Trish & Traci
Process safety expert Trish Kerin on narrowing margins, normalized risk and why asset integrity is the only thing standing between operators and disaster.
May 12, 2026
Process Safety with Trish & Traci podcast graphic titled 'Leading Safely in a VUCA World,' featuring a stacked blocks illustration spelling out VUCA: Volatility, Uncertainty, Complexity, Ambiguity, against an orange background, with an industrial skyline silhouette.
Process Safety w/Trish & Traci
Process safety expert Trish Kerin breaks down APTBED, a practical decision-making framework for keeping safety front of mind when times are turbulent.
April 21, 2026
Album cover for Process Safety with Trish & Traci podcast on NATECH events
Process Safety w/Trish & Traci
How natural disasters collide with industrial hazards — and why even experienced facilities consistently underestimate the risk.
March 10, 2026

Chemical Processing Distilled Podcast

Podcast cover for Distilled podcast celebrating America's 250th anniversary
Chemical Processing Distilled
Two hundred and fifty years ago this week, a group of delegates in Philadelphia signed their names to the Declaration of Independence. Today, we are going to talk about how chemistry...
July 2, 2026
Podcast album cover of Distilled News featuring Jonathan Katz
Chemical Processing Distilled
Olin and Huntsman announce a $12.5 billion tie-up, Evonik cuts 3,200 jobs and BASF's CEO warns of an oil shock — while Covestro bets on biology to clean up aniline production....
June 26, 2026
Podcast cover for the episode Podcast: Pumps, Flow and the Fight Against Wasted Energy
Chemical Processing Distilled
This episode digs into three plant-floor challenges that look simple until physics intervenes—bulk solids handling, heat pump-driven distillation savings and a water pump's mysterious...
June 17, 2026
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Podcast cover of Distilled News with Jonathan Katz
Chemical Processing Distilled
This month's top stories cover an NRC environmental clearance for an advanced reactor in Texas, a deadly hydrogen sulfide incident under CSB investigation, SOCMA's regulatory ...
May 29, 2026