whynotchemeng
whynotchemeng
An introduction to chemical, biochemical and process engineering...
Chemical engineers create and develop the processes to produce, change or transport products and materials.
They use their maths and science knowledge to investigate problems and design solutions for issues such as safety, efficiency and sustainability, and these skills can open the door to:
- plenty of variety and exciting challenges
- opportunities to travel the world
- the potential to help create a sustainable planet
- competitive starting salaries
- professional status - become a Chartered Chemical Engineer.
What is chemical engineering?
Modern society relies on the work of chemical, biochemical and process engineers - they help manage resources, protect the environment and control health and safety procedures, while developing the processes that make the products we desire or depend on.
Chemical engineering is all about changing raw materials into useful products you use every day in a safe and cost-effective way. For example: petrol, plastics and synthetic fibres such as polyester and nylon, all come from oil.
Chemical engineers understand how to alter the chemical, biochemical or physical state of a substance, to create everything from face creams to fuels.
Process engineering
Many chemical engineers become process engineers when they graduate and start their career. Process engineering is essentially the application of chemical engineering principles to optimise the design, operation and control of chemical processes. Since this requires equipment design and selection, mechanical engineers may also be employed as process engineers.
Biochemical engineering
Biochemical engineering is a rapidly developing sector which takes exciting science discoveries and changes them into cost-effective and environmentally-friendly processes. Biochemical engineers use these processes to create products ranging from new medicines through to renewable energy, as well as greener solutions to waste treatment.
Biochemical engineers are responsible for tackling many of today’s global challenges such as the development of vaccines to protect people against pandemic flu, stem cell therapies to cure blindness and biofuels from algae to provide more sustainable energy sources.