FROM THE EDITOR
Thomas Baer, Managing Editor
tbaer@cahabamedia.com
Polyvinyl chloride (PVC) is everywhere. It’s one of the most ubiquitous plastics in the world, appearing in products used in plumbing and construction, healthcare, agriculture, arts and crafts, fashion and more. Unfortunately, due to its high chlorine content and the presence of hazardous additives in the polymer, PVC can also be difficult to recycle, meaning a great deal of it ends up in landfills.
Scientists at Virginia Tech recently turned their talents to addressing this problem. Led by chemist and chemical engineer Guoliang “Greg” Liu, the team placed PVC into a solvent, added aluminum trichloride and alpha-olefins and then heated the mixture to 158 F for three hours. The result was polyalphaolefin, a key component in engine oil and other synthetic lubricants. If this process can be developed for popular use, it not only has the potential to reduce plastic waste in a big way, but also to offer a more sustainable method of producing industrial lubricants.
| Image credit: Сергей Шиманович - stock.adobe.com
This kind of innovation is a cornerstone of the chemical processing industry, and we delve more deeply into that world in our cover series this month. Learn how different varieties of polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) sheet gasketing affect seal integrity; how new technologies are helping fight the formation of Legionella in cooling towers; how optimizing pumping systems can keep chemical processing operations healthy; and how a systems approach to mechanical seals can improve reliability and emissions control.
Also in this issue is a special section on the use of AI and machine learning in various industries and a column by Sotirios Christofi on how establishing focused mean time between failure (MTBF) indices can help measure the impact of pump reliability.
As always, thanks for reading.
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PUMPS & SYSTEMS (ISSN# 1065-108X) is published monthly (in January, February, March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October, November and December) by Cahaba Media Group, 221 Rele Street, Suite 530067, Mountain Brook, AL 35223. Periodicals postage paid at Birmingham, AL, and additional mailing offices. Subscriptions: Free of charge to qualified industrial pump users. Publisher reserves the right to determine qualifications. Annual subscriptions: US and possessions $48, all other countries $125 US funds (via air mail). Single copies: US and possessions $5, all other countries $15 US funds (via air mail). Call 800-256-2785 inside or outside the U.S. POSTMASTER: Send changes of address and form 3579 to Pumps & Systems, PO Box 271, Lincolnshire, IL 60069-9835. ©2026 Cahaba Media Group, Inc. No part of this publication may be reproduced without the written consent of the publisher. The publisher does not warrant, either expressly or by implication, the factual accuracy of any advertisements, articles or descriptions herein, nor does the publisher warrant the validity of any views or opinions offered by the authors of said articles or descriptions. The opinions expressed are those of the individual authors, and do not necessarily represent the opinions of Cahaba Media Group. Cahaba Media Group makes no representation or warranties regarding the accuracy or appropriateness of the advice or any advertisements contained in this magazine. SUBMISSIONS: We welcome submissions. Unless otherwise negotiated in writing by the editors, by sending us your submission, you grant Cahaba Media Group, Inc., permission by an irrevocable license (with the right to license to third parties) to edit, reproduce, distribute, publish and adapt your submission in any medium on multiple occasions. You are free to publish your submission yourself or to allow others to republish your submission. Submissions will not be returned. Volume 34, Issue 10.
In This Issue
