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PODCAST

Chemical Processing Distilled

chemicalprocessing

The Chemical Processing Distilled podcast extracts essential elements to serve engineers designing and operating plants in the chemical industry.

business management

All Episodes

38:50

Water Is Water — And Other Costly Myths

Chemical Processing Distilled ·

2026/04/10

In this episode of Chemical Processing's Distilled podcast, editor-in-chief Traci Purdum speaks with water treatment expert Brad Buecker about the dangers of the "water is water" mindset in industrial settings. Buecker shares real-world examples of costly boiler failures caused by ignoring water chemistry, explains how water's near-universal solvent properties create scaling and corrosion risks and highlights how geography and climate shape treatment needs. He stresses that single water analyses are

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6:19

The Alchemist Signs Off

Chemical Processing Distilled ·

2026/04/03

After nearly two decades, Seán Ottewell retires from Chemical Processing, leaving behind a legacy that spans battlefield bones, Neanderthal adhesives and one particularly memorable hedge. In this episode, Editor-in-Chief Traci Purdum highlights some of his best work...including taking a tinkle on his neighbor's landscaping.

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7:00

Strait of Hormuz Chaos, TSCA Reform and More — March...

Chemical Processing Distilled ·

2026/03/27

Supply chain shocks from the Iran conflict, a contested overhaul of chemical safety law, an ethylene oxide rollback and a green chemistry advance — the month's biggest stories summarized by Executive Editor Jonathan Katz.

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24:36

The Hidden Costs and Risks of Cross-Training Operators

Chemical Processing Distilled ·

2026/03/20

Cross-training process plant operators sounds simple, but execution is often flawed. Human factors engineer Dave Strobhar explains that effective cross-training must be based on job complexity and demonstrated competency — not arbitrary time requirements. Common pitfalls include inconsistent crew procedures that cause negative transfer of training, inadequate alarm management for operators returning to console roles and subjective assessments that fail to verify true proficiency. Decision-making

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7:01

CP Notebook: ACD's Eric Byer on Iran, Tariffs, and...

Chemical Processing Distilled ·

2026/03/16

In this bonus episode, Executive Editor Jonathan Katz highlights main points from his recent interview for his Chemical Processing Notebook series. Eric Byer lives and works in Washington, D.C., where he fights for more than 400 companies that make up the Alliance for Chemical Distribution. As CEO and president of ACD, he backs the interests of chemical distributors by lobbying on issues such as fair trade policy, rail reform, and chemical safety. He has testified before Congress on several of

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23:03

Solutions Spotlight: Don't Let the Wrong Mag Meter...

Chemical Processing Distilled ·

2026/03/13

Corrosive acids, erosive slurries, viscous polymers, fluids with variable conductivity — these are the kinds of process streams that prove most challenging. Selecting the wrong technology or materials can mean frequent failures, costly downtime or, worse, a safety incident. Electromagnetic flow meters — also known as mag meters — have been a workhorse of the chemical industry for decades. But there's a lot more nuance to applying them well in tough services than most people realize, and some newer

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7:06

When Experience Becomes a Blind Spot

Chemical Processing Distilled ·

2026/03/06

Workforce Matters columnist Lauren Neal explains what happens when experience stops sharpening judgment and starts dulling curiosity. The comfort and danger of “we’ve seen this before.”You can read the full column here. This was read by Editor-in-Chief Traci Purdum.

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5:39

Distilled News: Supreme Court Strikes Down Trump...

Chemical Processing Distilled ·

2026/02/27

Executive Editor Jonathan Katz reviews this month's chemical industry news, which 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 leader for global plastics treaty talks.

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22:52

Train Operators for Real-World Chaos, Not Perfection

Chemical Processing Distilled ·

2026/02/20

Chemical processing operators need training that mirrors real-world conditions, not idealized scenarios. The final six guidelines from Walter Schneider's research emphasize maintaining motivation through consequences, presenting complex contexts with distractions, intermixing tasks to build switching skills, and incorporating time pressure. Training should capture expert strategies that minimize workload—like focusing on key parameters rather than monitoring everything—and teach operators to triage

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31:39

eChem Expo Brings High-Value Training to Manufacturers

Chemical Processing Distilled ·

2026/02/13

eChem Expo, recently acquired by Chemical Processing’s parent company EndeavorB2B, returns April 7-9, 2026, in Kingsport, Tennessee. Conference Director Damon Shackelford discusses the event's evolution from a regional gathering to a comprehensive three-part experience featuring an expo floor with nearly 200 vendors, professional conference sessions and technical seminars. This year's theme, "Energizing Growth and Resilience in a Competitive Landscape," addresses critical industry challenges

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10:40

Most Read: Amid Regulatory Uncertainty, Chemical...

Chemical Processing Distilled ·

2026/02/06

From light-driven catalysts to EPA debates, chemical sector balances technological advances with safety, economic and environmental challenges. Editor-in-Chief digs into what the audience was reading.

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7:25

What Topped Chemical Industry News in January 2026?

Chemical Processing Distilled ·

2026/01/30

The chemical industry faces flat growth, formaldehyde regulation debate, Venezuela oil investment push, winter storm threats and a cheesy viral moment.

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6:57

Chemical Compliance: What to Expect in 2026

Chemical Processing Distilled ·

2026/01/23

Global chemical regulatory ‘best guess’ for 2026 amid political shifts, litigation and evolving U.S. and European Union policies. Each year, Bergeson & Campbell, P.C., its global consulting affiliate The Acta Group, and consortia management affiliate B&C Consortia Management, L.L.C., prepare a summary overview of things to come in the new year. We are pleased to present our Forecast 2026. Our global team of chemical experts works hard each year to summarize our collective best guess on what

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16:33

Master 5 Critical Guidelines for Effective Operator...

Chemical Processing Distilled ·

2026/01/16

In this Chemical Processing podcast, Traci Purdum and Dave Strobhar discuss training guidelines for operators. They cover five of 11 guidelines based on Walter Schneider's research: promoting consistent processing to build automaticity (where tasks become automatic), designing training for repeated practice of critical skills, avoiding memory overload through reference materials, varying training conditions to match real-world scenarios, and maintaining active trainee participation. Dave emphasizes

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8:35

2026 Chemical Industry Outlook

Chemical Processing Distilled ·

2026/01/09

Cautiously Optimistic Despite Near-Term HeadwindsU.S. chemical sector shows resilience with long-term growth potential amid trade uncertainties and uneven recovery. Martha Gilchrist Moore, chief economist for the American Chemistry Council, offers her predictions for the coming year. Editor-in-Chief Traci Purdum reads the column. You can read the article here.

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10:00

EPR and Recycled Plastics: Why Chemical Safety Is the...

Chemical Processing Distilled ·

2026/01/02

Alexandra Savino explains why new data showing recycled plastics contain more hazardous substances than virgin materials is driving Extended Producer Responsibility reforms that link compliance to chemical performance.Key Highlights EPR now includes chemical safety, increasing scrutiny on contaminants like metals, PFAS and PAHs in post-consumer recycled plastics. Upstream accountability is growing, with regulators and brand owners requiring chemical producers to verify product safety and

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10:04

Chemical Processing Distilled News: 2025 in Review

Chemical Processing Distilled ·

2025/12/26

Welcome to the year-end edition of Distilled News. To wrap up 2025, we will review some of the top stories coming from the chemical industry over the past 12 months.

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13:27

Fail-Safe Pump Technology Wins Vaaler Award

Chemical Processing Distilled ·

2025/12/19

This episode of Distilled features the final 2025 Vaaler Award winner: Flowserve's INNOMAG TB-MAG Dual Drive. This sealless pump technology provides secondary containment through the pump itself rather than the motor, unlike canned motor pumps. The system prevents catastrophic leaks of toxic and corrosive fluids while handling up to 30% solids. Nick Rentzelos, the technology's inventor and Flowserve's director, explains how the maintenance-free design addresses the skilled workforce shortage and

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26:23

AI Technology Autonomously Optimizes Complex Chemical...

Chemical Processing Distilled ·

2025/12/12

Yokogawa's Vaaler Award-winning reinforcement learning algorithm reduces implementation time, balances plant objectives and achieves rapid learning in trials.Factorial Kernel Dynamic Policy Programming, or FKDPP, a reinforcement learning AI developed by Yokogawa and the NARA Institute of Science and Technology and applied by Yokogawa to process industries is the first reinforcement learning AI to autonomously control complex chemical processes, FKDPP complements manual and conventional control

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21:57

Corrosion Under Insulation is 86’d by Sherwin-Williams

Chemical Processing Distilled ·

2025/12/05

Vaaler Award winning technology allows operators to forgo traditional insulation systems and all the associated labor, materials, inspection, and maintenance expenses in favor of a spray-applied coating that retains process heat, protects personnel, and eliminates corrosion under insulation.Editor-in-Chief Traci Purdum chats with Neil Wilds, global product director, Corrosion Under Insulation Testing, to learn how this innovation earned a Vaaler Award. Neil is affiliated with the Sherwin-Williams

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159 results

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