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 names tell you nothing about the ingredients they contain. You need ingredient-level visibility of hazardous chemicals to not only keep your employees and surrounding community safe but also meet many regulatory requirements and everyday safety management obligations. 

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 Tom Blackwood's "Beware of Blending Myths" column that appeared on the Chemical Processing site Oct. 14, 2016. It is read by Traci Purdum, editor-in-chief of Chemical Processing. The original column can be found here:

https://www.chemicalprocessing.com/processing-equipment/powder-solids/article/11320694/powder-handling-beware-of-blending-myths-chemical-processing

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 crucial for various chemical processes, from managing raw materials to distillation.

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 Than We Thought. Indeed, today's multi-billion-dollar adhesives industry can be traced back more than 50,000 years to Neanderthals first using multicomponent adhesives to make tools.

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/home/article/11288741/project-management-workflows-matter-chemical-processing

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 developing teamwork skills. Continuous learning and improvement are essential for optimal team performance.

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, regional product lead and Coriolis meter product specialist at Krohne Inc.