Inspiring Stewardship by Example

Brainerd Chemical sets the example for safe and responsible chemical handling.

Leadership in the chemical industry is best exemplified by those intentionally making a difference and inspiring others to adopt a values-first mindset by example.

In an industry where innovation and impact are often measured in efficiency and output, Brainerd Chemical Company is redefining leadership through a deeper commitment—stewardship. At the heart of this vision is Chairman Mathew Brainerd, whose values-driven leadership has positioned the company as a model for responsible manufacturing, sustainable growth, and community engagement.

For over six decades, Brainerd Chemical has played a pivotal role in providing high-quality chemical solutions to industries ranging from oil and gas to agriculture and water treatment. But beyond its business performance, what sets the company apart is its culture of accountability, safety, and service—a culture shaped by Mathew Brainerd himself.

“Leadership in chemicals isn’t just about delivering product—it’s about how you do it, who you impact, and what legacy you leave,” says Mathew Brainerd. “We have a responsibility to our employees, our customers, and our communities to operate with purpose and integrity.”

Chemical manufacturers and suppliers must emphasize transparency, innovation, and continuous improvement. Lead with intention by pioneering safer chemical handling processes, investing in green technologies and responsible workforce development. Initiatives like advanced leak detection systems, minimized waste protocols, and energy-efficient facility upgrades are not just checkboxes—they’re active choices that reflect a values-first mindset.

Internally, Brainerd fosters a culture where safety and ethics are non-negotiable. Employees receive ongoing training, and every team member is empowered to speak up, suggest improvements, and take ownership of operational excellence. This people-first philosophy has earned the company high marks from regulators and partners alike.

“Real leadership,” says Brainerd, “is measured by the people you lift up and the paths you clear for others.

Under Brainerd’s leadership, the company has also become a beacon for civic engagement. Whether supporting STEM education, disaster relief, or workforce reentry programs, Brainerd Chemical sees giving back as part of its business DNA.

That ethos extends to the broader industry. Mathew Brainerd is a vocal advocate for responsible supply chains and ethical standards in chemical distribution. Through active involvement in industry associations and policy discussions, he’s helped shape best practices that benefit the entire sector—not just his own firm.

Mathew A. Brainerd, Chairman and owner of Brainerd Chemical Company, has held several leadership positions in prominent chemical associations:

  • National Association of Chemical Distributors (NACD): Brainerd has been actively involved with NACD since 2009, serving in various capacities including Chairman of the Government Affairs Committee (2009-2011), Treasurer (2011-2013), Vice Chairman (2013-2015), and Chairman (2015-2017).
  • International Council of Chemical Trade Associations (ICCTA): He served as Chairman from 2012 to 2014. In 2016, this organization transformed into the International Chemical Trade Association (ICTA), with Brainerd as a founding member.
  • Chemical Educational Foundation (CEF): Brainerd served as Treasurer from 2011 to 2013, contributing to educational initiatives in the chemical industry.
  • Rail-Shipper Transportation Advisory Council (RSTAC): In 2018, he was appointed to this council, which advises the U.S. Surface Transportation Board on issues related to rail transportation.

Perhaps most importantly, Brainerd’s example is inspiring the next generation of industry leaders. Through mentorship, collaboration, and visibility, he’s showing that success in chemical manufacturing is not at odds with responsibility—it is built on it.

In an age where corporate responsibility is no longer optional, Brainerd Chemical is proving that stewardship isn’t just good ethics—it’s good business. And with Mathew Brainerd at the helm, the company continues to lead not just with chemicals, but with character.

About Brainerd Chemical Company

Brainerd Chemical Companies mission to safely supply our customers with the solutions they need, the support they want, and the reliability they depend on to meet the challenges they face every day.

Media Inquiries:

Brainerd Chemical Company:  1+ (918) 622-1214

SOURCE: Brainerd Chemical Company.

PAA Helps Overcome Rural Wastewater Treatment Challenges

Water is life, and for rural communities, ensuring its safety is paramount. Yet, these communities often operate under significant challenges such as limited budgets, minimal technical staff, and aging infrastructure compared to their urban counterparts. Yet these facilities must meet the same stringent regulatory requirements for effluent quality.

Peracetic acid (PAA) disinfection offers a promising solution for rural applications, offering significant operational, economic, and environmental advantages over traditional chlorination or UV systems. This article examines the practical applications and benefits of using PAA water treatment processes in facilities serving smaller populations.

The Rural Wastewater Challenge

Rural treatment facilities typically process lower water volumes but face greater variability in flow rates and influent characteristics. Many operate lagoon systems or small package plants, where implementing complex disinfection technologies can be prohibitively expensive.

Historically, these facilities have relied heavily on chlorine disinfection, which requires dechlorination steps to prevent environmental harm, or UV systems that demand significant maintenance and energy inputs.

Peracetic acid (PAA) continues gaining popularity as an alternative to traditional chlorine-based disinfectants in wastewater treatment. According to Koivunen and Heinonen-Tanski (2013), PAA disinfection offers advantages in scenarios with limited infrastructure—precisely the situation many rural facilities face. Their research demonstrated effective pathogen reduction at lower doses than traditionally required for chlorination, reduced toxicity and compliance with discharge limits, improved personal and environmental safety, as well as reduced cost through streamlined operations.

How PAA Works for Rural Applications

Peracetic acid works through oxidation, effectively destroying pathogenic microorganisms by disrupting their cell membranes. What makes PAA particularly suitable for rural applications?

Operational Simplicity: PAA requires minimal contact time compared to chlorine—typically 10-15 minutes versus 30+ minutes—allowing for smaller contact chambers and retrofitting into existing systems without major capital investment (Luukkonen & Pehkonen, 2017).

No Harmful Byproducts: Unlike chlorine, PAA breaks down into benign components (primarily water, oxygen, and acetic acid), eliminating the need for dechlorination equipment and chemicals—a significant advantage for facilities with limited technical capacity.

Effectiveness Across Conditions: PAA maintains disinfection efficacy across a wide pH range (5.5-8.2) and in the presence of suspended solids—conditions often encountered in rural systems with less advanced primary and secondary treatment (Antonelli et al., 2016).

Commercial products like Terrastat® have been formulated specifically with these advantages in mind, offering PAA concentrations and delivery systems suitable for smaller facilities.

Potential Operational Benefits

For water districts with lower-volume (3,000+/- residents) operations facing increasingly strict effluent requirements and challenges related to aging chlorination equipment, results can be compelling when comparing chlorination to PAA. While each situation is unique, Pilot programs typically reveal significant benefits highlighted by:

Capital Savings: By repurposing existing contact chambers and eliminating dechlorination equipment, one operation found capital costs would be 42% lower than projected costs for new chlorination equipment.

Operational Simplicity: Staff training requirements may potentially decrease

Environmental Compliance: Fecal coliform, E. Coli or Enterococci levels consistently meet permit requirements with greater reliability than older chlorination systems.

Reduced Chemical Handling and Associated Risks: Elimination of gaseous chlorine reduces risks to worker safety, which is of particular importance in facilities with limited staff.

Simplicity: For small systems, the simplicity of PAA is often noted as the biggest advantage. Operators don’t need specialized technical knowledge to maintain effective disinfection.

Sustainability Benefits

The sustainability advantages of PAA disinfection are particularly relevant for rural communities where environmental stewardship often connects directly to local livelihoods:

Reduced Chemical Transportation: PAA’s effectiveness at lower doses means fewer chemical deliveries—particularly valuable for remote locations.

Ecological Safety: McFadden et al. (2014) demonstrated that PAA disinfection poses significantly lower risks to aquatic ecosystems than chlorinated effluent, particularly in sensitive receiving waters like the small streams often downstream of rural facilities.

Energy Efficiency: Compared to UV systems, PAA requires little electrical input for disinfection, reducing both operational costs and carbon footprint.

Climate Resilience: PAA systems maintain efficacy during flow variations caused by increasingly common extreme weather events, providing operational stability during challenging conditions.

Implementation Considerations

For rural facilities considering PAA implementation, several factors deserve attention:

Dosing Systems: Manufacturers like Prominet Pumps, Watson & Marlow, Blue & White or Pyxis Labs now offer simplified dosing systems specifically designed for smaller facilities.

Regulatory Approval: While PAA has gained regulatory acceptance, permit modifications may be required.

Staff Training: Though simpler than chlorination, proper handling procedures for concentrated PAA remain essential.

Key Takeaways

For rural wastewater treatment facilities seeking cost-effective, environmentally sound disinfection solutions, Brainerd Chemical Company offers a comprehensive line of Terrastat® PAA-based products, expert service and reliable delivery that offers compelling advantages.

The operational simplicity, minimal infrastructure requirements, and strong environmental profile make Terrastat® PAA-based products particularly well-suited to the unique challenges of rural water treatment applications.

Brainerd Champions More Responsible Global Chemical Distribution

Hague, Netherlands // August 26, 2024 // Momentum is gaining as the International Chemical Trade Association (ICTA) plans to launch a Global Responsible Distribution program by the end of 2024 enhancing safety across worldwide chemical supply chains.

The ITCA Global Responsible Distribution program draws inspiration from the ACD Responsible Distribution program developed in the United States by the Alliance for Chemical Distribution (ACD).  The ICTA’s intention is to provide a responsible distribution program in countries where no such industry organization exists. The global program is built on 10 guiding principles and requirements for site sampling and mandatory third-party verification.

Mat Brainerd, President of the ICTA and Chairman of Brainerd Chemical Company, champions positive change from within the chemical industry and was proud to explain, “I’m very proud of the companies that have gotten behind this. It takes a lot of support, both from a financial and human resource perspective, to stand up a robust Responsible Distribution program in all corners of the world. This is a big deal and one that no one else has ever tried before. People need to know it is not chatter anymore; we’re finally doing it.”

Key Elements of Global Responsible Distribution

  • Developed by, and designed especially for, the chemical distribution industry.
  • Mandatory third-party verification.
  • Includes third-party warehouses.
  • Risk-based approach to limit sites to be verified. Incorporates safety, security, and health (SSH) as well as environment, social, and governance (ESG).
  • Differentiates between gold, silver, and bronze.
  • Globally harmonized.
  • No commercial set-up (lower fees, security of data).

The ITCA’s Responsible Distribution program has the potential to drive the chemical industry toward a unified commitment to continuous improvement, setting the highest standards for supply chain safety and promoting sustainable practices worldwide. Through this initiative, supply chain partners across the globe can align their efforts to achieve a safer, more sustainable future for the industry.

About Brainerd Chemical Company

Brainerd Chemical Company is one of the largest independent suppliers of chemicals and related services in the continental United States. They specialize in manufacturing, blending, packaging, and distributing chemical products across a diverse range of industrial sectors.

Media Inquiries:

Brainerd Chemical Company:  1+ (918) 622-1214

SOURCE: Brainerd Chemical Company, International Chemical Trade Association (ICTA), the Alliance for Chemical Distribution (ACD).

Safety First

Tuttle, OK // June 12, 2024 // Brainerd Chemical Company proactively works to ensure swift emergency response and containment by engaging with local area first responders and emergency management planners to develop relationships, improve communication and amplify first responder facility layout knowledge.

Brainerd Chemicals’ Tuttle facility supplies energy producers and the food safety industry with the chemical products and guidance they need for more efficient, effective, and environmentally responsible operations.

Every Brainerd employee is expected to promote a culture of safety by continuously striving for the safest way forward. And every employee is empowered to stop, review, and improve any process they feel can be made safer. It’s an approach that helps our team foster a positive, healthier environment for our staff, customers, and the communities we live and work in.

Brainerd Chemical strives for open, transparent, and frequent communication with the local, state, and federal organizations taking a proactive approach to responsible operations. “Safety is at the forefront of everything we do,” says Garrett Woodson, Operations/Logistics Manager.

Garrett and his team regularly host a two-hour facility tour and lunch meetings with local emergency management teams. The process helps build invaluable relationships, accelerate communication, and provide first responders with the critical on-site familiarization they need to expedite response times, reduce human risks and help minimize potential environmental damage in the event of an emergency.

Jessica Lane, reporter for the Chickahsa Express-Star learned a lot when she joined the Grady County Local Emergency Planning Committee (LEPC) for a facility tour. All operations are shut down during the tour, ensuring a safe and comprehensive learning opportunity.

Lane noted that Brainerd Chemical Company has a unique “constant visual” of safe operations. Safety features are engineered into every square foot in the facility such as the sloped floors nearly everywhere the LEPC group walked. Woodson explained that keeping all chemicals off the ground is a priority. Although barely perceptible if not pointed out, sloped floors direct any spilled material towards a retention area where they can be safely remediated.

Overhead, the Brainerd facility has specialized, explosion-proof lighting, as well as highly sensitive sensors able to detect chemical leaks and prevent potential emergencies before they happen. Should a situation occur, a fire suppression system is in place able to provide 21 minutes of continuous flow to quickly knock-down flames.

Integrated physical safety systems are only as effective as the people and culture behind them. At Brainerd, every employee is expected to focus on safety and improve any process in pursuit of a healthier environment for staff, customers, and the neighboring communities.

About Brainerd Chemical Company:

Brainerd Chemical Company is one of the largest independent suppliers of chemicals and related services in the continental United States, manufacturing, blending, packaging and distributing chemical products to a wide variety of industrial sectors.

Media Inquiries:

Brainerd Chemical Company:  1+ (918) 622-1214

SOURCE:

Brainerd Chemical Company, Chickasha Express News, Grady County LEPC & City of Tuttle Fire Department

Brainerd Chemical Shares Expertise with Senator Inhofe’s Team

Tulsa, OK // Sep 02, 2021 // Brainerd Chemical welcomes the local and Washington D.C. based teams for U.S. Sen. Jim Inhofe (R-Okla.), chairman of the Senate Environment and Public Works (EPW) Committee, when they stopped by to discuss CFATS, chemical safety and other policy issues which impact our industry.

Brainerd was honored to share our expertise and continue collaborating with Senator Inhofe as his team sought to better identify, assess and address potential security vulnerabilities as well as how to enhance training and response capabilities to reinforce public safety and responsible chemical manufacturing, storage and distribution.

Chairman and Owner Mat Brainerd commented, “We are honored to collaborate with Sen. Jim Inhofe, who cares deeply about our industry. Our team is eager to continue working together to reinforce safety and responsibility.”

Sen. Inhofe Tours Tuttle facility. 2019

Local and Washington D.C. bases teams tour was part of ongoing bipartisan efforts to help ensure that the Department of Homeland Security has the tools and resources it needs to keep our nation safe. CFATS is the United States first regulatory program focused specifically on chemical facility security. The Chemical Facility Anti-Terrorism Standards (CFATS) were developed in response to the unprecedented 9/11 attacks to ensure that any facility identified as high-risk has sufficient security measures in place to reduce the risk associated with outside threats.

The Brainerd Chemical team is proud to assist our nation’s leaders pursue a safer, more secure and robust future for all Americans.

About Brainerd Chemical Company:

Brainerd Chemical Company is one of the largest independent suppliers of chemicals and related services in the continental United States, manufacturing, blending, packaging and distributing chemical products to a wide variety of industrial sectors.

Media Inquiries:

Brainerd Chemical Company:  1+ (918) 622-1214

SOURCE: Brainerd Chemical Company