Chemical engineers can put their skills to use in a very broad range of areas — from chemical and pharmaceutical manufacturing to petroleum refining and to areas of biomedical work, such as development of artificial dialysis equipment and more. This…
I recall from the time that I worked as a research and development (R&D) engineer, the concept of a “rainmaker” — a talented researcher who was challenged to come up with new technologies that could eventually lead to new businesses.…
This August, two milestone actions were taken to set standards for emissions control in the U.S. On August 3, U.S. President Obama and U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Gina McCarthy released the final Clean Power Plan — the first-ever…
Honoring ‘green chemistry’ achievements The 2015 winners of the Presidential Green Chemistry Challenge Awards have been announced. Each year, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA; Washington, D.C.; www.epa.gov) recognizes innovative technologies that reduce hazards to humans and the environment and…
Five innovative technologies that were commercialized in the past two years have been selected as finalists for the 2015 Kirkpatrick Award for Chemical Engineering Achievement. The winner will be announced on November 18 at the Chem Show in the Jacob…
The explosion of electronic devices that surround us greatly influences the way we function, particularly in the area of communication — how we find entertainment, get information and make connections with others. Video screens seem to be everywhere: at work,…
On my way home from the office I have heard, on numerous occasions, fellow commuter-train riders lament about how their jobs are requiring them to do more and more with fewer people. It seems that this trend exists across the…
If you’ve been noticing something different about your recent issues of Chemical Engineering — you are right. We have changed our look. With the February 2015 issue, we unveiled our newly redesigned print magazine. This May issue is our fourth,…
Recently, a research report titled “Intelligence Driven Cyber Defense,” was issued by Ponemon Institute (Traverse City, Mich.; www.ponemon.org) with the purpose of elucidating if and how organizations were improving their ability to reduce cyber-related risks. The report, which was sponsored…
In the chemical process industries (CPI), dust can present an issue far more menacing than a housekeeping nuisance. Combustible dust is in fact, much too often listed as a cause of serious, and even fatal accidents. Incidents In January…