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 |  March 18, 2026
Eric Byer ruminates how the Iran conflict, oil price swings, tariff uncertainty and rail consolidation are squeezing chemical distributors.
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How They Made It Work
Album cover for Process Safety with Trish & Traci podcast on NATECH events
Process Safety w/Trish & Traci
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industrial worker tests control valves
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Industry News

Arkema
Changshu PVDF manufacturing site in China at night
The Changshu site is Arkema's largest PVDF manufacturing location worldwide, with the new unit expected to start up in 2028.
March 17, 2026
Neste
Neste’s new facility to upgrade liquefied waste plastic into high-quality petrochemical feedstock is located at the company’s existing refinery in Porvoo, Finland. Source: Neste
The company said the new facility supports chemical recycling while reinforcing oversight of renewable raw material sourcing.
March 17, 2026
Genaro Molina/Los Angeles Times/TNS
Crystal Schalmo, founder of Green Dragon Conservation Education, collects garbage and other debris that washed up after a storm on Cabrillo Beach in the Los Angeles neighborhood of San Pedro on Dec. 25, 2025. (Genaro Molina/Los Angeles Times/TNS)
Analysis of seawater samples shows pharmaceuticals, pesticides and plastic-derived compounds detected hundreds of miles offshore, raising questions about ecosystem impacts.
March 16, 2026
Robert V Schwemmer / Shutterstock.com
President Donald Trump and EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin make an announcement on rescinding the 2009 EPA Environmental Protection Agency endangerment finding at the White House. Deregulatory action.
Trump EPA's plan to roll back ethylene oxide emissions standards divides industry groups and environmental advocates as legal battle continues in federal court.
March 16, 2026

Comical Processing

Jerry King
Comical Processing cartoon from Jerry King showing operators shoveling money into a furnace.
Another year, another cartoon that needs your captions. Hit us up!
Jan. 13, 2026
Jerry King
A Jerry King cartoon portrays engineers looking at a pipe with oodles of valves. The workers don't know what to do.
Simon Blackmore is the winner of the funniest caption for this cartoon. Check out his work and see the honorable mentions.
Nov. 3, 2025
Jerry King cartoon of an operator sitting next to a machine using ChatGPT
Congratulations to Robert Bauer. His caption gave us nervous laughter.
Sept. 10, 2025
Jerry King
Jerry King cartoon big chemical blender
Congratulations to Chuck Lewis for providing a great earworm. Watch out for the pop tops.
June 25, 2025

Utilities/Energy

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Oil petroleum refinery plant building distillation columns tower
Heat pumps integrated into distillation operations have the potential for up to 80% energy savings compared to conventional steam reboilers.
Feb. 16, 2026
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Concept of protecting the environment. Renewable energy. Sustainable alternative energy sources. Green energy innovation, green world
Renewable electricity is driving breakthroughs in decarbonization of steam reforming, cracking and air separation technologies worldwide.
Jan. 12, 2026
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Industrial heat transfer equipment in a plant
Heat transfers via conduction, convection and radiation; understanding these mechanisms enables optimal heater selection.
Nov. 19, 2025
Tribune Content Agency, LLC/Mario Tama
The U.S. Keeps Breaking Renewable Energy Records
Despite policy setbacks, market forces and technological advancements continue to drive the renewable energy boom across the country.
Sept. 12, 2025

Workforce & Training

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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
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Electric heat range on stove
Understanding how people actually perceive, decide and act is essential to preventing catastrophic industrial accidents and everyday errors.
Feb. 18, 2026
Chemical engineering degree classroom with digital AI icon overlaid on chalkboard to represent education concept.
Programs remain outdated and siloed, failing to prepare graduates for the demands of AI, sustainability and interdisciplinary collaboration.
Dec. 29, 2025
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Hiring Generation Z
Gen Z hiring is only part of the solution for a shrinking chemical industry workforce.
Sept. 23, 2025

Environmental

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Earth on a background of grass and clouds versus a ruined Earth on a background of a dead desert with Smoking chimneys of industrial enterprises.
Engineer examines greenhouse gas data, ocean carbon sinks and modeling uncertainties in climate change debate.
Feb. 10, 2026
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Ethylene oxide molecule illustration. Molecular structure of ethylene oxide carcinogenic gas used as agricultural insecticide and a sterilant for medical equipment. 3D rendering.
Tulane researchers' nickel-silver catalyst for ethylene oxide production moves closer to industrial application.
Feb. 9, 2026
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magnifying glass over image of light bulb surrounded by five question marks
Veteran environmental engineer discusses AI research, regulatory consensus challenges and how the pandemic transformed professional training.
Feb. 6, 2026
water molecular structure 3d, flat model, polar inorganic compound, structural chemical formula view from a microscope
In Part 1 of a series exploring industrial water treatment, learn why raw water chemistry varies dramatically across sources and how overlooking these differences can lead to ...
Feb. 4, 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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Magnifying glass hovers over Eastman logo on computer screen
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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Sponsored
Geopolitical shocks, shifting trade alliances and volatile tariffs are reshaping global supply chains. Join our webinar to learn how leaders are redesigning networks, diversifying...
March 31, 2026
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Sponsored
Stop guessing. Learn about the 10 design considerations that make pneumatic conveying systems stable, efficient, and easy to run, focusing on material behavior, velocities, line...
Feb. 19, 2026
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Sponsored
Join us for the first installment of our 2026 roundtable series, where a panel of industry experts takes on the hard questions surrounding combustible solids processing and handling...
March 10, 2026
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Sponsored
An essential resource for chemical manufacturers, distributors, and employers subject to OSHA’s Hazard Communication Standard (HCS), including revised rules for classifying chemicals...
Jan. 23, 2026

Process Safety With Trish & Traci Podcast

Podcast cover for Process Safety with Trish & Traci. Episode is PHA Revalidation
Process Safety w/Trish & Traci
How to avoid tick-box exercises and uncover hidden risks in facilities.
Feb. 17, 2026
Podcast cover for the Challenger Space Shuttle episode of Process Safety with Trish & Traci
Process Safety w/Trish & Traci
Engineers couldn't prove danger, so managers launched anyway. Seven astronauts died when O-rings failed in freezing temperatures. Apply the lessons learned to help avoid future...
Jan. 19, 2026
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hand holds a hexagonal tile with the word risk. in the background hexagonal tiles surround empty slot that reveals the word reward
Process Safety w/Trish & Traci
Applying risk management principles helps Process Safety Engineer Trish Kerin navigate her first successful year of self-employment.
Jan. 7, 2026
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image of a hand with a magnifying glass over Process Safety with Trish & Traci logo
Process Safety w/Trish & Traci
Hayley Little shares her LinkedIn project tracking global incidents quarterly, using AI and virtual reality innovation ideas.
Dec. 9, 2025

Chemical Processing Distilled Podcast

Podcast cover for the February 2026 news roundup featuring Jonathan Katz
Chemical Processing Distilled
This month's chemical industry roundup covers a landmark tariff ruling, Dow's AI-driven layoffs, the rollback of the EPA's Endangerment Finding, BASF's India expansion and a new...
Feb. 27, 2026
Podcast album cover shows illustration of chaos in one brain and organization in the other brain for Train Operators for Real-World Chaos, Not Perfection episode.
Chemical Processing Distilled
Time pressure, distractions, and expert shortcuts prepare chemical plant workers for high-stakes decisions under stress.
Feb. 20, 2026
Podcast cover for the eChemExpo episode featuring Damon Shackelford and Traci Purdum
Chemical Processing Distilled
Conference Director Damon Shackelford discusses resilience, safety focus, hands-on training and inspector certifications at April's regional event, presented by Chemical Processing...
Feb. 13, 2026
Podcast cover showing Executive Editor Jon Katz as a news reporter for January 2026
Chemical Processing Distilled
The chemical industry faces flat growth, formaldehyde regulation debate, Venezuela oil investment push, winter storm threats and a cheesy viral moment.
Jan. 30, 2026