Chemical engineering involves the production and processing of chemicals to create products such as metals, plastics, and pharmaceuticals. Chemical engineers work to create safe and cost-effective uses for chemicals. They study matter on a molecular and global scale and contribute to various industries. Chemical engineering is a versatile discipline that requires knowledge of chemistry, physics, math, and biology. Chemical engineers can specialize in research, technical sales, or biomedical engineering. They work to create new or improved products and processes while ensuring safety and efficiency.
One of the four major types of engineering is chemical engineering, the others being civil, mechanical and electrical engineering. As the name suggests, it involves the production and processing of chemicals. Chemical engineering is useful in developing products, such as metals, detergents, plastics, and pharmaceuticals, from chemicals. In general, chemical engineers work to create safe uses for chemicals in the most cost-effective way. New compounds can be discovered by chemists; however, without a chemical engineer employing his or her skills to quantify, test, and produce it, the new compound may never become a final product.
Chemical engineering is based on a deep understanding of how matter is structured and how molecules can be transformed. Sometimes, matter is inspected on a molecular scale, as with some polymers used in controlled-release formulated drugs. Conversely, the matter can also be studied on a global scale, such as measuring the chemistry involved in global climate change. In all, chemical engineers are responsible for contributing to the technological backbone of many of the world’s industries, ranging from chemical, pharmaceutical, and plastics manufacturing to petroleum and food processing.
Because chemical engineering involves a deep understanding across a wide range of studies, it is also one of the most versatile disciplines. For example, a chemical engineer should study chemistry, physics, advanced mathematics and biology. As a result, those interested in chemical engineering can choose from any number of industries or specialties. Research, Technical Sales, Biomedical Engineering are three such specialties, discussed below.
Sometimes chemical engineering is deeply intertwined with research. In these cases, engineers work hand-in-hand with chemists to create new or improved products or processing methods. Once a new or improved product has been devised, the next step is to develop it, usually in a laboratory under the supervision of a chemical engineer. If the product appears to be successful, move on to a pilot plant where a chemical engineer will test the product or new process, make adjustments where necessary, and maintain detailed reports. When changing the product or process, they want to make sure it’s better than before, without posing safety issues, creating unnecessary waste, or spending too much time or money.
Technical sales engineering and biomedical engineering are both subsets of chemical engineering. A chemical engineer involved in technical sales will work with customers to determine what type of manufactured product will meet their needs. Often, they will work as managers and make decisions related to their business. A biomedical engineer develops concepts and reflects on the ideas of other members of the medical and scientific community and transforms them into usable and useful devices, materials, treatments, tools, procedures, and techniques for patients and their physicians.
Protect your devices with Threat Protection by NordVPN
