Chemical Processing Distilled

As winter approaches, you should assess how well your plant is protected from problems that frigid conditions can pose. In this episode, Managing Editor Amanda Joshi reads a column from Dirk Willard. If you don't have a mother or spouse nagging you to wear a coat, give this a listen. And don't forget to take out the trash! Original column: Safety: Winterization Goes Beyond Equipment Articles refer...

Operator roles have expanded beyond valve-turning. Future operators will need broader understanding of chemistry, equipment and instrumentation to effectively troubleshoot and communicate issues. In this podcast we discuss the changing landscape of operator training. Three key factors are driving change: a new generation of workers comfortable with mobile technology, emerging technologies like vir...

Here is a look at the three top trending stories as reported on ChemicalProcessing.com. Explosion at Honeywell Plant Occurred Two Years After Replacement Recommendation, CSB Reports -- Management approved the project but did not purchase or install a replacement shell before the Jan. 23, 2023, explosion. Dow Reports Power Outage at Freeport Operations Due to Hurricane Beryl -- Company says it's wo...

In Case You Missed It brings the written word to life. In today’s episode, Editor-in-Chief Traci Purdum will be reading an article from Tom Blackwood, Chemical Processing’s Solids Advice columnist. This article “Combat Fine Particle Challenges -- What makes them good is also why they’re bad” was published to ChemicalProcessing.com July 22, 2024. Here is the full column

Readers ask questions about their motors and our expert responds. Proper troubleshooting is important. Here are a few questions that were posed to our motors expert, Tom Bishop, over the years.  Bishop is a senior technical support specialist with the  Electrical Apparatus Service Association (EASA) . He joined the EASA staff in 2002 with over 30 years of hands-on engineering experience at electri...

This cognitive bias has operators clinging to beliefs despite contrary evidence. In this episode, we discuss fixation, also known as confirmation bias or tunnel vision. It’s a cognitive bias in which people cling to beliefs despite contrary evidence. Dave Strobhar and Traci Purdum discuss how fixation can be problematic in industrial settings, citing examples like the Yom Kippur War and the Three...

Focus on clarity in an engineering report. While such reports fall into several types — cost estimates, engineering calculations, proposals and studies (e.g., related to laboratory work or calibration, failures and inspections, or optimization)  — all benefit from a clear discussion and conclusion. Sometimes this requires flexibility to stray from a company’s set format. This ICYMI episode revisit...

Distilled News examines the top three stories trending on chemicalprocessing.com. Hosted by Jonathan Katz, executive editor of Chemical Processing. Safety Lessons from the Great Molasses Flood of 1919 Regulatory Burdens, Barbie and Taylor Swift Impact the Chemical Industry EPA Tightens Grip on Toxic Chemicals, Industry Feels the Heat  

Hackers are targeting manufacturing to leverage intellectual property for big money. In a recent episode of Automation Chat, from Chemical Processing's sister publication The Journal from Rockwell Automation, Theresa Houck, executive editor and host of Automation Chat, digs deep into a study regarding advancing digital transformation in a time of unprecedented cybersecurity risk. If you’re not alr...

 Operator training hasn’t really changed in the past 50 years, relying heavily on on-the-job training with experienced operators as instructors. However, these operators often lack formal training in teaching methods and techniques. In this episode, we highlight the potential benefits of simulation-based training and the use of dedicated trainers, as well as the advantages of a five-crew rotation...

In this ICYMI episode Amanda Joshi, managing editor, reads a column from Dirk Willard on project management. Filed and forgotten, that’s the fate of too many proposals I’ve had to work on. Usually, they relate to somebody’s pet project, an itch that production wanted to scratch, or a worthwhile concept that proved uneconomic. I’m kept busy for a week or two developing the scope, estimating the cos...

In this episode, Jonathan Katz, executive editor of Chemical Processing, talks about the top stories in May 2024. We learn that you can’t fight climate change without chemistry, the rise of biological drugs is driving explosive growth in the single-use technologies and In an era where decarbonization and digitalization are increasingly recognized as pivotal forces shaping industries, the chemical...

Bob Ross isn’t the only one to have happy accidents. Accidental discoveries have significantly advanced the chemical industry and led to numerous groundbreaking innovations. These serendipitous findings have often paved the way for the development of new materials, processes and applications that have had a profound impact on various sectors. 

Time is critical when tracking down hazardous substances. Whether it’s trying to mitigate safety incidents before they happen, comply with applicable safety and environmental regulations, or gather all the pertinent information during an emergency involving a chemical spill, fire or natural disaster, having an efficient way to trace every ingredient is paramount. However, many chemical product nam...

The problem with particulate solids is they segregate every time we turn around. Why? Because they are a two-phase material and only about half is the solid we’re interested in. As a troubleshooter at corporate engineering, the most common call I got from plants was about blenders that didn’t blend. The problems arose because people believed some myths. This In Case You Missed It podcast features...

In the news this week: The U.S. EPA finalizes methylene chloride ban; Plastics Treaty negotiations wrap up in Ottawa; and Dow and BASF report lower Q1 sales.

In this episode, we explore the importance of storytelling in the chemical industry. From knowledge capture and transfer to making technical information understandable and engaging, storytelling aids in retaining tacit knowledge and contextual understanding and enhances employee engagement.

In the chemical industry, digitalization and emissions monitoring are pressing operational challenges. While exploring the technological innovations behind these trends, attention often shifts to advanced software and precision sensing technologies. But the critical components that ensure the smooth operation of a process plant can be overlooked. Central to many operations, vacuum pumps are crucia...

This week’s news roundup examines the collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore and how it could impact the chemical supply chain. We also learn that several U.S. oil companies are following in the footsteps of Dow by announcing their plans to utilize small nuclear reactors to meet their electricity requirements. And finally, in the Did You Know Department: Neanderthals Were Smarter Th...

In Case You Missed It brings the written word to life. In today’s episode, I will be reading an article from Andrew Sloley, Chemical Processing’s Plant InSites columnist. This column “Project Management: Workflows Matter” was published on our website on March 30, 2022. Written by: Andrew Sloley, Plant Insites columnist Read by: Traci Purdum, editor-in-chief URL: https://www.chemicalprocessing.com/...

Executive Editor Jonathan Katz catches us up on what's new in the chemical industry.

Research on team performance barriers finds that fatigue, workload, competing priorities, conflicting information, and lack of technical expertise are significant hurdles. 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 guides and realistic teaming scenarios aid in develo...

The combination of high accuracy, versatility, direct mass measurement and minimal maintenance requirements make Coriolis meters suitable for various industrial applications. Unlike volumetric flow meters, Coriolis meters directly measure mass flow, making them less susceptible to variations in temperature, pressure and fluid density. To learn more, Chemical Processing spoke with Alec O’Keefe, reg...

This news roundup ponders an elevator to space and questions Chemours ethics. 

Exxon looks to balance fossil fuels with sustainability,  Didion execs sentenced and yellow snow for battery recycling. This news roundup covers the chemical industry in February 2024.