Chemical engineers- Career

Chemical engineers are interested in the science of chemistry to find new and better ways of doing things.
Chemical engineers use chemistry, physics, and mathematics along with engineering tools to solve problems relating to the production and use of chemicals. This includes such things as refining gasoline and other fuels from petroleum, purifying drinking water, treating waste products, recovering raw materials, and producing and processing food. They can work in chemical manufacturing, electronics, pollution control, even medicine and food processing.
There is also scope for chemical engineers to move into related areas such as biotechnology, food engineering and mineral engineering.
Biochemical engineers study chemical reactions and process occurring naturally in living system (plants and animals) to copy and use them for human benefit, for example biochemical processes are used to brew beer and biochemical processes are also used in sewerage and waste water treatment.
Chemical engineers can work as production engineers who are responsible for the equipment and processes used in various chemical or manufacturing plants. Production engineers ensure equipment is maintained and operating at peak level of production and may also advise on the layout of the factory floor to maximise production levels, or on the purchase of new equipment.
They may also work as process control engineers concerned with creating and maintaining computer software and systems designed to control the quantity and quality of a particular product when it is being manufactured.
Another area of work for chemical engineers is pharmaceutical work developing equipment that produces life-saving drugs and medicine.

Examples of work involved

• Pilot test new methods of manufacturing products, such as paper or photographic film, and oversee the implementation of those methods in full-scale production
• Develop cost-effective processes for recovering raw materials from the ocean or outer space
• Generate and efficiently mass produce new medicines
• Produce new, cleaner burning fuels from plants or other renewable resources
• Design pollution prevention technologies to protect water, air, or human health

Education

Chemical engineers need a four-year Bachelor degree.
Some chemical engineers specialise in biochemical, petroleum, metallurgical, or sanitation engineering.

Work environment

Most chemical engineers work in manufacturing industries, in research and development labs, production plants, or management.
Some provide engineering services as consultants in research and testing, design, or policy.
The environment and hours that they work varies with the industry and kind of job.