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Work with chemical manufacturers in the laboratory

Chemical suppliers and chemical manufacturers start in the laboratory, whether it's manufacturing basic chemicals or creating the products made from them. These businesses must know how chemicals are produced in the lab along with safety concerns and rules.

I recommend: Galbraith Laboratories offers tips and information on chemical laboratories, including elemental analysis, chromatography testing and trace analysis. The Washington State Department of Labor and Industries provides a full list of rules and instructions for working with lab chemicals. The Bureau of Labor Statistics compiles information on the chemicals industry such as the industry's nature and working conditions.

Use chemicals in the medical field

Medicine has gone far due to chemical use. However, dealing with people's health and lives cannot be taken lightly. Doctors, pharmacists and everyone else using medical chemicals must know exactly how they treat diseases.

I recommend: The Mayo Clinic explains how chemotherapy cures many types of cancer. The Journal of Medical Chemical, Biological and Radiological Defense contains many articles on chemical medicine use, like treating nerve agents. Practice Greenhealth lists the hazardous chemicals used in medicine, along with their risks and the required compliance.

Know what industrial chemicals are used in the chemical business

Every industry uses industrial chemicals, especially creating products people use every day. Household cleaners, paints, food preservatives and many other things involve very basic chemicals. Chemical companies must know what these chemicals are used for to know who to sell their chemicals to, and manufacturers must tell their consumers what chemicals are in their products.

I recommend: Cheresources.com provides information on the most common industrial chemicals and what they are used for, such as sulfuric acid, ammonia and sulfur hydroxide. Industrial Chemicals lists the many chemicals it produces with the fields they are used in, like personal care, water treatment and metal finishing. ASTM International lists many standards for industrial chemicals, including engine coolants, sulfuric and hydrochloric acid and methanol.

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Make sure you know the environmental concerns of whatever you create as a chemical producer. You must always comply with federal environmental regulations.

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Figure out who's the best in the chemicals industry

As with cars and other products, you'll want to make sure you buy from reputable chemical companies that have knowledgeable customer service agents.

I recommend: Check in with Chemical and Engineering News for the annual ranking of the Top 50 chemical producers. If you can't get authorization to look at the more recent ranking, try an older one. Most of the top rated chemical companies don't change much from year to year.

Search a chemical company directory

Aside from the largest chemical producers, there are plenty of smaller chemical companies. You can find local chemical suppliers by searching online databases.

I recommend: Check the SRI consulting chemical marketplace database. In addition to finding a chemical supplier near you, you can contact them for information about chemical usage and disposal too. Dialog1 also provides a directory of chemical suppliers that is more easily searchable by product, region, or company. ThomasNet has directories for both laboratory chemicals and industrial chemical suppliers.

Set-up disposal options for chemicals

There's more to purchasing chemicals than finding a chemical supplier. You'll also want to figure out ahead of time what you'll do with the chemical waste.

I recommend: Check out this Work.com guide describing some of the governmental regulations having to do with waste disposal. Contact one of these national hazardous waste disposal companies for a quote: Veolia, AET Environmental, or Progressive Environmental Services.

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Some chemical suppliers will also pick up the waste products at a reduced charge. Ask about this before you purchase.
• •  Make a simple table to compare chemical prices, delivery dates, and grades between chemical manufacturers.

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Find news information and market reports on the chemical companies

Chemical manufacturers, like any business, must be aware of what's happening in their world of production. This includes not only news events among chemicals producers, but market research on where the chemical processing industry is going.

I recommend: Check out Chemical and Engineering News for up-to-the-minute reports on the chemical and bioengineering world. ICIS includes a chemical business section with stories and reports on the chemical industry in America and internationally. Go to Marketresearch.com to find market research reports on all types of chemicals, which are organized in categories like gases, organic and inorganic chemicals and petrochemicals.

Follow the news and trends for the specific industry you're a chemical manufacturer for

If you are a chemical producer for a specific industry, you'll need to be informed on news in that field, especially as it applies to chemical use. Make sure you know what's happening and developing in chemical use in medicine, environmental studies, household products or whatever field you provide chemicals to.

I recommend: Medical News Today contains news and information on biochemistry and how it affects the medical field. The National Institutes of Health provides releases on chemicals in several products manufactured for everyday use. E! Science News publishes articles on chemicals for environmental use.

Keep up to date on rules and regulations for handling chemicals in the chemical business

The use of chemicals is often dangerous, especially if such substances are misused. Therefore, there are strict rules and regulations the chemical marketplace must follow. You must keep up to date on whatever regulations apply to the industries you are a chemical supplier for.

I recommend: Check out the Chemical Regulation Reporter from the Bureau of National Affairs for all the laws and regulations on manufacturing, distributing and selling chemicals. The Government Accountability Office provides information on Chemical Regulation. Food Chemical News reports on news regarding U.S. food laws and policies regarding chemicals.

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Follow all the major news outlets as often as you can and look for any major stories involving the chemicals industry.

Guide to Chemicals Key Terms

A look at a few chemicals available for many different uses

By Michelle Cramer

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Acetone

Acetone, or OC(CH3)2, serves mainly as a solvent component. Most commonly, acetone is a component of nail polish remover and paint thinner, but also serves as a component for paints, varnishes, some plastics and synthetic fibers.

I recommend: The Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry provides information on acetone, including the harmful effects of direct exposure.

Bentonite

Like most chemicals, bentonite is a product of the earth. The alteration of volcanic ash produces this clay-like substance, known for absorption and decolorization. Bentonite is a substance used in cat litter, the production of steel and iron, part of cements, as a lubricant in construction and in the food industry as an oil absorbent, to name a few.

I recommend: The Industrial Minerals Association explains the various uses of bentonite in greater detail.

Hydrochloric acid

Hydrochloric acid is a component of fertilizers, chlorides and dyes. It is more commonly known as a solution of hydrochlorine, used in water -- such as swimming pools -- to kill bacteria. It is also part of the production process for gelatin and other food additives and in the processing of leather.

I recommend: Visit the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's Air Toxics Website for more information on hydrochloric acid.

Methanol

The decomposition of landfills and biomass results in the production of methanol, chemically known as CH3OH. Among the many uses are antifreeze, fuel, and in producing other chemicals. It is also a denaturant for ethanol and used in wastewater treatment plants as a food source for the bacteria.

I recommend: Visit Methanex for more information on methanol uses and safety information.

Thiourea

Thiourea is an organic compound made up of sulfur, nitrogen, carbon and hydrogen, known chemically as CSN2H4 or (NH2)2CS. The textile dyeing industry uses thiourea dioxide to brighten the dye colors, maximize pulp strength and minimize pollution.

I recommend: Qingdao Tianhao Chemicals provides more information on thiourea dioxide.

Formaldehyde

One of the most common uses for formaldehyde is as an embalming agent. It is also a stabilizer in the final wash of color negative film, a component of adhesives and bonding agents in construction materials and as a part of consumer products such as cotton fabrics.

I recommend: Healthy Homes provides more information on formaldehyde uses and composition, as well as how to deal with excessive exposure. Visit the Solvay chemical glossary for more chemical definitions.