From the device you are using now to the mundane objects around you, chemical engineering had a hand in all of it!Chemical engineering is the analysis of chemical processes or products to convert them into more useful substances. It is a very broad field of engineering services that involve chemistry, math, physics, and sometimes even biology.Chemical engineers work to solve problems of all scales. They tackle global issues like plastic disposal and waste management, but also find solutions to everyday problems, like the quality of the food you eat. Chemical engineering is essential for humans as it can give us solutions to the worst problems, such as pathbreaking diagnosis methods and life-saving drugs!Facts About Chemical EngineeringYou may know by now that chemical engineering is a field of science that works out ways to use energy and resources in the most efficient manner possible. Read on to learn exactly how this goal is achieved by chemical engineers, governments, and companies all over the world!George E. Davis, an English engineer, is said to be the founder of modern chemical engineering. Chemical engineering as a field became relevant in the 19th century when large-scale chemical manufacturing processes began taking place.Chemistry is often confused with chemical engineering. Chemistry is the study of chemical reactions, whereas chemical engineering has more to do with taking the materials created by chemists and making them more useful or at a large scale.These days, chemical engineers work with computer software such as CAD (Computer-Aided Design) to make their designs as accurate and efficient as possible.Some key skills required to work as a chemical engineer are strong knowledge in chemistry, physics, and structural engineering, analytical and programming skills, and most importantly, creative and quick problem-solving skills!Chemical engineering jobs can be in an industrial setting or related to product development. A chemical engineer can work as a manufacturing process manager at a chemical plant or be a part of research and development units at large companies.Advances in chemical engineering will provide solutions to the world’s most crucial problems: renewable potable water and pollution control.If you want to become a chemical engineer and solve problems, the minimum educational requirement is a bachelor’s degree in science or engineering. Most people continue learning beyond a bachelor’s degree to gain more knowledge, as well as get better jobs.Branches Of Chemical EngineeringChemical engineering combines the disciplines of science, technology, mathematics, and economics. Since the field of work is so vast, and the role of chemical engineering is omnipresent in every industry, chemical engineers often specialize in a particular field.Biotechnology is the field of science that involves using chemicals and biological substances called enzymes to produce mainly medicines.Food engineering is similar to biotechnology, except that it focuses on improving food standards instead of creating medicines.The development of new materials through chemical processes is known as material synthesis. A chemical engineer who specializes in this subset would work at plastic, ceramic, or fabric production plants.Environmental engineering refers to processes like water treatment and waste management. This is a field where chemical engineers work to make the world a sustainable place.Process control is a subset of chemical engineering where engineers ensure that the equipment and systems involved in production work safely and efficiently. This is a crossroads of mechanical, chemical, and electrical engineering.Nanomaterial engineering involves working with extremely small materials and equipment.Chemical processing is a field where chemical engineers produce substances such as pesticides and fertilizers.Some chemical engineers specialize in chemical thermodynamics or principles that revolve around heat transfer to design equipment used for combustion.Applications Of Chemical EngineeringChemical engineering has applications in every field. A chemical engineer has a role to play in any industry and so the applications of chemical engineering are many. Some of the most prominent ones are listed below.Chemical engineers work in petroleum wells, chemical plants, and mining fields, overseeing unit operations in the chemical industry.Chemical engineering is used in food production processes, as well as the development of fertilizers, to improve the quality and quantity of food available for consumption.Chemical engineering has applications in the development of a variety of fibers. Water-resistant, breathable, and fire retardant fibers are some of the materials developed by chemical engineers that make your life comfortable!Chemical engineering is used for purposes that aim for the welfare of people, such as using chemicals and materials to create new medicines and prosthetics. You may see that a lot of biopharmaceutical companies hire chemical engineers for this purpose.Chemical engineers are as important as mechanical engineers while designing a product for commercial use. While mechanical engineers fix technical problems, chemical engineers use their knowledge of energy, chemicals, and domain-specific details to find innovative ways to fix flaws in a product’s design.The Human Genome Project, which is a research project that maps the DNA sequences of the entire human race, wouldn’t have been possible without advances in chemical engineering!Chemical engineers are constantly trying to come up with innovative environmental sanitation methods. They are instrumental in conserving energy resources, coming up with research to provide eco-friendly alternatives to production processes, and sourcing raw materials, all of which ultimately reduce pollution.Famous Chemical EngineersChemical engineers have shaped the world as you see it today. Listed below are a few names who contributed greatly to the advancement of chemical engineering. These are people whose achievements and discoveries led to the creation of many substances around you, such as plastic!George E Davis is known as the founding father of chemical engineers. He coined the term ‘chemical engineering’ and developed the first chemical engineering course in 1887 at the University of Manchester.The Haber-Bosch process, founded by Fritz Haber, makes it possible for synthetic fertilizers to be made. This crucial process was scaled up for industrial use by the chemical engineer, Carl Bosch.Margaret Hutchinson Rousseau established the first commercial plant of penicillin. She was also the first woman to achieve a doctorate from MIT.Nathaniel Wyeth is the engineer who invented the regular soda bottle, also known as polyethylene terephthalate bottles, which can withstand the pressure of carbonated drinks and can be recycled.Polythene, or plastic, was developed by a lot of chemists. However, it was the chemical engineer Dermot Manning who made large-scale production of polythene possible.Trevor Kletz contributed significantly to the safety process in industries that worked with chemicals. He has written countless books and papers about loss prevention.Dr. Yoshio Nishi is a Japanese chemical engineer who commercialized the lithium-ion battery that powers all of your devices. He is renowned for his semiconductor research and has been associated with big brands like Toshiba and Hewlett Packard.Gore-tex, or all-weather waterproof clothing, came into existence as a result of experiments by the Gores, a family of chemical engineers from Newark, Delaware.
From the device you are using now to the mundane objects around you, chemical engineering had a hand in all of it!
