Chemical Engineering

Engineering Disciplines

Chemical Engineering

Introduction -

We have made eye opening progress in the field of technology and the credit very clearly goes to Chemical Engineering. Chemical Engineering is the process of converting raw materials in to useful or valuable substance by combining physical science (Chemistry and physics), life sciences (biology, biochemistry and microbiology) and mathematics. Chemical Engineering has a very wide scope; it covers various fields of science like biotechnology, nanotechnology and mineral processing. Chemical Engineers work on chemical technology in mineral based industries like pharmaceuticals, petrochemicals, petroleum refining plants and synthetic fibers etc. They design and manage Chemical Plants and develop ways to enhance production.

We seldom think about the importance of Chemical Engineering in our daily lives. But the truth is that everyday we come face to face with a product of chemical engineering.

All the daily use products like Shampoo, deodorants, Moisturizers, Talcum powder, lipsticks and the entire make up products, perfumes, soaps, toothpaste and many more such products are all an outcome of chemical Engineering. Beautiful jewellery, fashionable items, plastic materials are chemical products. Even the wide variety of paints used for the interiors and exteriors of houses, offices and buildings are made of different chemicals. It is all the result of skilled performance and hard work of Chemical Engineers. Even spray painting which is done on refrigerators, automobiles etc. is chemical engineering.

Chemical Engineering is vital for our wellbeing. Medicines and vaccines are chemical products and it takes immense amount of knowledge and expertise to devise new medicines. As it is the world is facing deep crisis because of epidemics like swine flu, bird flu etc and without proper vaccines, the conditions would have been miserable. The medical tests which help the doctors to give the apt treatment for patients have been possible because of chemicals.

The various jobs of the chemical engineers are designing and inventing new processes, constructing equipments and facilities and planning and operating facilities. Chemical Engineers develop atomic science, polymers, dyes, petrochemical, drugs, paper, fertilizers and foods and the list never ends. Chemical Engineers are also known as “Universal Engineers” because they are important for other fields of Engineering.

So many more useful materials are created by Chemicals. Chemical Engineers like all other engineers use their knowledge of Physics, Maths and chemistry to solve technical problems. A person’s curiosity, inventive talents and analytical skills is also helpful in this field. With these talents and an ability to excel one can reach the highest position in Chemical Engineering.

Educational Requirement: You only have to pass your 10^th standard board examination with 50% successfully to be eligible for a Diploma course. But if you really want a bright career in Chemical Engineering then you need to go for a bachelor’s degree - a B.E. or B.Tech. The eligibility criteria for B.E. / B. Tech is 50% marks in Class 12^th Board Examination in science stream with Physics, Chemistry and Maths as compulsory subjects. A bachelor’s degree in Chemical Engineering is required if you want to do an advanced course which is M.E. and M.Tech. There is also a provision of Distance Education which provides a bachelor’s degree through (AMIE) Associate Membership Examination of the Institute of Engineers .

Selection: - The admission to the chemical engineering course is very competitive. You have to pass the entrance test – JEE (Joint Entrance Examination) to attain admission to the IIT’s. JEE is an objective test comprising of 3 papers (Chemistry, Physics and Mathematics). For other reputed institutions you have to succeed in AIEEE (All India Engineering/ Pharmacy /Architecture Examination). There are state level and national level examinations also with some institutions opting for their own entrance examinations. Selection is done on the basis of marks obtained in board examinations i.e. 10+2 and the marks obtained in Entrance Test.

Duration: - The duration for the Diploma course in mechanical engineering is of 3 years. The B.E /B.Tech is a 4 year course and when you have the bachelor’s degree in Chemical Engineering in your hand, you can proceed further for an M.E./M.Tech course which is of 2 years.

Chemical Engineering

Different Branches –

1. Biotechnology – Biotechnology is based on technology, agriculture, food science and medicine. The Biotechnology Engineers develop a variety of medicines, vaccines and diagnostics. They devise new techniques to increase productivity, energy production and conservation. Biotechnology is also used in pharmaceutical development, waste treatment and food processing.

2. Ceramics – A ceramic is an inorganic, non metallic solid prepared by the action of heat and consequent cooling. The Ceramics Engineers are concerned with the purification of raw materials, the study and production of chemical compound, their formation into components, and the study of their structure, composition and properties.

3. Chemical Processes – Chemical Processes is the branch of chemical engineering which deals with the changing of one or more chemicals or chemical compounds. The chemical process engineers carry out this process on an industrial scale. They use technology to change a composition of chemicals or materials similar to what is used in a chemical plant or chemical industry.

4. Environmental Engineering – The Environmental Engineering is the application of chemical engineering principles to improve the environment to provide healthy land, water and air for the existence of living beings. Environmental Engineers use engineering technology to control water and air pollution, recycling, waste disposal issues. They also conduct research processes and studies to find causes of hazards and also plan methods of prevention.

5. Nanotechnologies – Nanotechnology is the technique of controlling matter on an atomic and molecular scale. Nanotechnology usually deals with structures of 100 nanometers size in at least one dimension. Chemical Engineers involved in nanotechnology build structures and mechanism on an atomic or molecular scale.

6. Plastic & Polymers – People prefer using plastic in modern technology as it is light non-rusty, easy to maintain and can be molded in any desirable shape. Plastic is often called Polymer and polymer is often referred to as plastic e.g. polythene bag. Polymer is a large molecule composed of repeating structural units typically connected by chemical bonds. Plastic and polymer engineers develop new materials, coatings and application processes for plastic and polymers.

7. Unit Operation – Unit Operation is also a branch of chemical Engineering. Unit Operators are involved in the various steps that lead to the development of a structure. Unit Operators carry out various chemical processes and mechanical operations such as crushing or mixing or thermal operation such as liquidation and refrigeration.

Career Options for Chemicacl Engineers: -

There are good amount of opportunities for chemical engineering students, they are hired mostly by pharmaceutical, polymer and petroleum companies. A Chemical Engineer can go for a job in any specialized field of his choice. He can be employed in chemical processes, designing equipment and chemical plants, testing manufacturing products and supervise production. They are also needed for studying the properties and effects of dangerous chemicals, strategizing new processes for their normalization and developing new chemicals which can substitute them.

Chemical Engineer can seek jobs in public as well as private sectors. They can be employed in the chemical process industry like fertilizer, pesticides, specialty chemicals dyes, dye stuff, lubricants, paints and food processing industry. Oil Refineries are also good career options for a chemical engineer. Today the construction companies are becoming very popular and they always require good chemical engineers to handle their chemical engineering department. Private sectors want an engineer with an extra degree in management. The concern of the public sector is the environment. They require chemical engineer for research and solving problems related with environment. They are also employed in scientific research and development of energy, biotechnology and nanotechnology.

Chemical Engineers can also take up jobs in coal preparation and mineral processing industries. They can become marketing executives in a chemical industry. But the most important industry which has the best career opportunities is the Pharmaceuticals industry. Pharmaceuticals industry is a very wide arena which has unlimited job opportunities. There are other industries also which have good scope to find employment
like electronic industry, photographic equipments, clothing, pulp and paper and aerospace industry. Teaching is also a very good career option and chemical engineering can spread their knowledge by becoming Lecturers in a technical institutes.

Salary – Due to the rapid growth Industrialization the chemical engineers have gained immensely. Their remuneration has increased so much that a fresher in this field can demand a starting salary of Rs.14, 000 to Rs 20, 000 per month. Lecturers get an initial salary in the range of Rs.15, 000 to Rs.20, 000 per month. Senior Engineers can earn around Rs.30, 000 to 50,000 per month.
After gaining good experience one can even work as Consultant in an industry and demand a big pay package. Chemical Engineers at the management level can earn up to Rs.60,000 or more per month. Along with these there are number of research and development opportunities for chemical engineering students and remuneration may range from $1000~$1500 and $1800~$2500 for Phd and postdoc (research position after PhD) for chemical engineering students.
Chemical Engineering can be very interesting career, immensely beneficial and a great learning experience.

The Best Colleges for Chemical Engineering in India are: -

1. Indian Institute of Technology, Kanpur

2. Indian Institute of Technology, Delhi

3. Indian Institute of Technology, Chennai

4. Indian Institute of Technology, Mumbai

5. Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur

6. Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee

7. Indian Institute Of Technology Guwahati

8. National Institute of Technology, Warangal

9. National Institute of Technology, Karnataka

10. BITS Pilani

The Best Colleges for Chemical Engineering in U.S.A are -