Articles

Effectively Use Abatement Curves to Reduce Greenhouse Gas Emissions

A mitigation cost curve chart can help illustrate the cost-effectiveness of different emission reduction strategies. A list of 14 projects to combat greenhouse gas emissions can...

Operator Training Podcast: Remove Team Performance Barriers

March 15, 2024
Psychological safety is crucial for effective team environments, allowing individuals to speak up and admit uncertainty without fear of reprisal. Tools such as self-assessment...

Advanced Corrosion Monitoring Provides Real-time Insights, Improves Chemical Operations

March 13, 2024
Continuous wall thickness monitoring for corrosive services can minimize damage and protect workers.

Optimizing Membrane Performance Using Ultrathin Coatings

March 12, 2024
Argonne National Laboratory has adapted a technique called atomic layer deposition to improve existing polymer membrane technology for separations and filtration.

Distilled News: Week of March 3, 2024, Review

March 11, 2024
EPA hazard reporting rules, space elevators and more.

Coriolis Meters Eliminate Assumptions

March 8, 2024
One installation point gives a variety of useful and accurate measurements.

Dow's $6.7B Ethylene Project: Decarbonization Meets Digitalization

March 8, 2024
Company's climate transition lead talks about how Dow is using digital technologies to advance its net-zero goals.

Podcast: Lessons Learned from Boeing’s 737 MAX Crisis

March 5, 2024
Boeing was known for its engineering excellence until a focus on profitability took over. Properly documenting management of change and recognizing weak signals could have prevented...

Bioplastics Boom: Certifications Rise, Regulations Loom

March 1, 2024
How BASF, Lubrizol, NatureWorks and others navigate growth in the era of sustainable chemistry

Podcast: Distilled News Roundup February 2024

Feb. 28, 2024
Exxon looks to balance fossil fuels with sustainability, Didion execs sentenced and yellow snow for battery recycling.

Use HAZOPs Properly

A hazard and operability study (HAZOP) mostly is a safety design check, not a design development review. Making and finalizing major design choices should occur long before a ...

Clear Up Corrosion Confusion

Feb. 26, 2024
Expert answers questions regarding corrosion inhibitors and stainless steel.

Benign, Solventless Process Depolymerizes Nylon-6

Feb. 21, 2024
Approach could play a part in environmental remediation and upcycling Nylon-6 wastes into higher-value products.

Exxon Mobil and Industrial Tech Giants on Open Automation

Feb. 20, 2024
A look at the Open Process Automation Forum's progress and how it's impacting digitalization across the chemical industry.

Stir it Up: The Importance of Slurry Mixing in Batteries

Feb. 19, 2024
Achieving proper mixing is essential for cost savings and optimizing battery capacity.

Podcast: How To Manage Upsets and Achieve a Stable Condition

Feb. 16, 2024
Upsets are going to happen, so why not plan for it? Learn how.

From Face Masks to Hydrogen-Rich Syngas

Feb. 14, 2024
An excess of single-use PPE waste from COVID-19 has researchers trying to find ways to convert biomedical waste to useful material.

Podcast: Master Inherently Safer Design Principles

Feb. 13, 2024
Eliminate, substitute or minimize hazards to save lives and the environment.

OSHA Issues Updated Process Safety Management Enforcement Guidance

The U.S Occupational Safety and Health Administration updated enforcement guidance regarding compliance with the agency’s Process Safety Management standard.

Mixing How To: Ribbon Blenders, Tank Baffles and Avoiding Hazards

Feb. 6, 2024
Mixing expert answers readers questions.

Solids Processing: All Models Are Wrong but Useful

In the future, artificial intelligence may develop unbiased models for intricate processes.

Podcast: Distilled News Roundup January 2024

Jan. 31, 2024
A sobering look at the economy, PFAS regulations continue, blue-ringed octopus key to sustainable energy, and black-mass recycling.

Sustainability: Chemical Clusters Drive Green Hydrogen, Carbon Capture and Circular Economy Solutions

Jan. 30, 2024
BASF's Verbund concept integrates production, energy and logistics for sustainable growth. Similar initiatives emerge globally, enhancing collaboration for sustainability.

Taking the Pain Out of Recycling Polyurethanes

Jan. 26, 2024
A new CO2-based method makes polyurethane-based plastics that are easy to recycle.

Key Elements of Operational Flexibility in Chemical Plants

Jan. 26, 2024
Reconfigurability, adaptability and production flexibility become exceptionally valuable during disruptive events.

The Difference Between Experiences and Learning in Process Safety

Daily experiences vary, but key events hold lessons. Reflection is vital for learning and shaping success.

Innovative Reactors Show Promise for Chemical Industry

Jan. 23, 2024
Already proven in drug manufacturing, new developments could improve efficiencies, performance for chemical applications.

Navigate Chemical Supply Chain Disruptions

Jan. 22, 2024
The post-pandemic world is changing the way chemical manufacturers envision their supply chains with a stronger focus on technology and closer collaboration.

Faster Ways To Train Chemical Operators

Jan. 19, 2024
Simulators and virtual reality offer objective ways to measure and improve training.

How Scientists Identify a Wine’s Chemical Signature

Jan. 17, 2024
A novel method of gas chromatography and machine learning pinpoints the exact region where a vintage originated, rivaling that of human wine tasters.

Accident Anniversaries: Honoring Lives and Learning Lessons

Jan. 16, 2024
From the LNG explosion in Algeria and the Boston molasses spill to Flixborough and the Valdez oil spill, the discussion underscores the ongoing relevance of these incidents and...

Global Chemical Regulations: 2024 Will Be a Consequential Year

Significant policy and regulatory developments in the United States and globally could be impacted by upcoming election cycles.

Solids Handling: Six Factors That Improve Agglomerates

The secret to superior flowability is understanding factors that control agglomeration and clumping.

Energy Saver: Tips for Effective Steam Trap Maintenance

Prioritizing the design, use and maintenance of steam traps can reduce energy costs while optimizing operations and overall efficiency.

Unlocking the Bright Side of Black Mass in Lithium-Ion Battery Recycling

Jan. 5, 2024
Innovations in drying technologies to efficiently process batteries for reuse.

A Better Year for U.S. Chemistry in 2024?

Moving into the new year, all eyes are on the chemical industry, a major contributor to the U.S. economy and a bellwether due to its critical role across many end-use sectors....

Oscillations Govern Fischer-Tropsch Rate and Yield

Jan. 2, 2024
Researchers discovered the catalytic reaction at the heart of the more than 100-year-old process doesn’t have one steady state but rather undergoes self-sustained oscillations...

“Polluter Pays Principle” Challenged in EU Study

Jan. 2, 2024
Authors of a European Union study suggest a hybrid approach to handling efficient removal of pharmaceuticals from wastewater.

Avoid Common Pitfalls of Risk Perception Via Statistics, Storytelling

Dec. 19, 2023
This episode discusses the challenges of intuitively understanding uncertainty and likelihoods in risk assessments. It also stresses the need for storytelling and stakeholder ...

Chemical Processing Book Club: Strong Supply Chains Through Resilient Operations

Dec. 19, 2023
What happens when five consultants introduce five principles for supply-chain health? You get a new book.

Chemical Processing Book Club: Valued at Work

Dec. 13, 2023
Lauren Neal shares how women navigating the traditionally male-dominated technical sector often feel undervalued, leading to a missed opportunity to achieve their full potential...

Advancing Separations Technology Through Collaborative Innovation

Dec. 12, 2023
University of Chicago, Argonne National Laboratory and Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory discuss the role of partnerships in advancing new separations technologies.

EPA Proposes Revised PBT Rules for decaBDE and PIP (3:1)

The EPA’s proposal would amend regulations for decabromodiphenyl ether (decaBDE) and PIP (3:1), two of the five persistent, bioaccumulative and toxic (PBT) chemicals addressed...

How To Avoid Alarm Rationalization Mistakes

Dec. 8, 2023
This episode focuses on alarm rationalization mistakes, emphasizing the importance of addressing underlying problems rather than just managing the steady-state alarm rate.

View Chemical Processing's History—See Our Future

Dec. 5, 2023
We’ve covered a lot in 85 years, and the next 85 look promising

Opinion: 9 Worst Practices For Technical Presentations

Dec. 4, 2023
Keeping the audience puzzled and off balance can be an advantage, especially if you haven’t made a clear and forceful point.

Operator Training: Does Font Size Matter?

Nov. 29, 2023
Consider contrast, font color, and size, as well as background colors, to ensure operators can do their jobs well and without fatigue.

Three Cheers for 2023 Vaaler Victors

Nov. 28, 2023
Three Ohio-based companies earned accolades for enhancing safety and efficiency

Chemical reactions: How drives and motors can deliver greater sustainability for the chemical industry

Nov. 27, 2023
By Sami Hietala, Global Segment Manager, Heavy Industry, ABB Drives

Chemical Processing Notebook: AkzoNobel Reimagines the Post-Pandemic Supply Chain, Workforce

Nov. 27, 2023
From beer cans to steel coils, a behind-the-scenes look at innovation in the packaging coatings business.

La Mède Refinery Tragedy Unveils Critical Corrosion Lessons

Nov. 22, 2023
The importance of rigorous corrosion inspection programs and the need for comprehensive risk assessments in facility design are paramount to process safety.

Powering the Future: The Rise of Green, Pink and Blue Hydrogen and 7 U.S. Clean Hydrogen Hubs

Recognizing the immense potential of hydrogen, the U.S. government has earmarked $7 billion, actively subsidizing the development of hydrogen hubs across the country.

Enhancing Industrial Water Management in Chemical Processing: Strategies for Compliance, Sustainability and Cost Efficiency

Nov. 20, 2023
Getting control of industrial wastewater drives efficiencies and presents opportunities for chemical companies.

EPA Proposes Ban on Trichloroethylene

Ban would take effect in one year for all consumer products and most industrial and commercial uses, with any remaining uses requiring stringent worker protections.