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Chemical engineering is all about changing raw materials into useful products you use everyday in a safe and cost effective way. Chemical engineers understand how to alter the chemical, biochemical or physical state of a substance, to create everything from face creams to fuels. For example petrol, plastics and synthetic fibres such as polyester and nylon, all come from oil through a chemical process. Today, chemical engineers are also branching into biochemical engineering, a more recent offshoot of chemical engineering, which uses the very latest technology to produce pharmaceuticals and foods. So, instead of rushing for computer engineering where thousands pin their hopes, a career in chemical engineering can be both lucrative and challenging.
Role and responsibilities Chemical engineers design, supervise, install and handle the operation of equipment, plants and works in which materials undergo chemical and physical changes. This could be in mineral- based industries, petrochemical plants, synthetic fibres, and even petroleum refining plants. Chemical engineers are also handling biochemical and biotechnology research which is revolutionising medicine. Providing cures for people suffering from long-term ‘un-curable’ diseases through advancement in fields such as stem cell research and tissue engineering. This means building block cells that can turn into any part of a body that is required, and literally growing new human body parts, anything from replacement skin to hearts. Energy is another area for chemical engineers who work with oil and petroleum specialists in areas related to oil and gas production. They may also be required to study the chemical and geological conditions of the soil and the processing of various petroleum byproducts. In addition, chemical engineers also study alternatives to fossil fuels as a source of energy, which could be ethanol, or even using hydrogen in water as a source of energy. Pollution and waste management is another area of work for chemical engineers. The production of many industrial goods causes significant emissions to be released into the atmosphere each day. For every one tonne of steel we make, a staggering 1.2 tonnes of carbon dioxide is belched into the atmosphere, massively increasing global warming. Chemical engineers work on systems and processes that reduce the emission levels and neutralise the damaging effects of the different polluting elements.
Eligibility To get into this exciting field you need to have at least a BT or BE degree in chemical engineering. Almost all engineering colleges and institutions offer this specialisation, for which admission is on the basis of an entrance test. You can also get into some of the fields of chemical engineering with a B.Sc and M Sc in Chemistry, or Biochemistry. Chemical engineering is a growing field suitable for those who have a knack for investigative, laboratory and research work and an intrinsic ability of working with form and structure. They must also have a facility with numbers, and a logical mind, in addition to an organising ability, practicality, clear-headedness, and a capacity for hard work. With the advancement in knowledge and technology, you can find placement in the widest variety of process engineering units, such as organic and inorganic chemicals, plastics and rubbers, petroleum and petrochemicals, oil, fats and paints, textiles, papers, leather, solid fuels, drugs and pharmaceuticals, synthetic chemicals and petrochemicals.
Placement prospects You can also look at managerial and technical consultancy services with financial institutions, banks and development corporations where their field of specialisation and expertise is of value. You can also handle project management services involving construction, scheduling and quality monitoring for chemical projects from the start-up to completion. You can also join a certifying agency and provide services as a safety auditor or certified energy auditor for industries. Other jobs for chemical engineers include teaching and being a guide for undertaking research in various fields like, environment, chemistry, material science, engineering and technology, safety etc. You can also write on the subject in professional and semi-professional publications. The possibilities in this field are almost endless for those who have enough interest in the subject and a passion to learn the
fundamentals.
The writer is a noted career expert
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Our modern society relies greatly on those who help manage resources, protect the environment and control health and safety procedures. Chemical engineers do all this, while working on projects as diverse as providing water to the rural areas, helping create a pollution-free environment and cutting-edge tissue engineering research, while developing the processes that make the products we desire or depend on.
