CHEMICAL

ENGINEERING
HISTORY
Chemical engineers are a unique breed . Theyre a small, elite group
of engineers with a rigorous education, a thorough knowledge of
chemistry, and highly developed analytical, project management and
problem-solving skills. Theyre team players who are accustomed to
typically getting little or no credit for the work they do which
usually involves a near-impossible goal with next to no budget.

The history of chemical engineering is as diverse as the individuals

themselves. Chemical engineers have been responsible for delivering
just about every product we use from the silicon chips in our
computers, to the paper we write on, to the water we drink.
Engineering facilitates things that we take for granted in our daily
life, points out Ralph Larson, staff vice president of engineering at 3M
(St. Paul, MN), who has been with the firm for 35 years. Engineers
are involved in everything from product conceptual development on
the bench, through developing a process for that particular
innovation, to managing our factories, to managing the supply chain.
WHAT TO
EXPECT AS A
STUDENT?
Seven Reasons to Study a Chemical
Engineering Degree

1. Modern and applicable

Of all the scientific subjects on offer at UK universities today, few have more modern
applications than chemical engineering. The study of nanotechnologies and bioengineering
will put you in the know when it comes to areas of research that are seen as most
promising in the scientific community.
2. Great graduate prospects
In the same vein as above, chemical engineering is one of the most employable subjects in
the world today. An average 90% graduate employment rate according to our 2016
statistics means you will be put in very good stead, not only for working in the lab, but also
out in the field, or in scientific management.

3. Multi-use degree
Doing a Chemical Engineering degree does not limit you to a job as a chemical engineer.
You can also easily pursue a job in analytical chemistry, as well as engineering in
manufacturing or mining, as well as in the mentioned managerial or production areas.
4. Standard of Education
In order to do Chemical Engineering, you need to grades. Most courses won't accept any
less than straight As. The upside of this is that if you do get in, you are among the best,
and can expect the best quality of education in your degree from former industry
professionals who really know their stuff.
5. International skills
The world is a small yet diverse place, both more global, yet at the same time dividing
people like nothing else. Chemical engineering offers skills and knowledge that can be
applied in any country or culture around the world today. Knowing a foreign language helps
too.
6. Respect
You have to be smart to be a chemical engineer, and, in all honesty, the title of the degree
sounds fancy and complicated, which will impress at parties. There's also the respect that
will come when you graduate from one of the toughest degrees on offer - which is why you
will get a job.
7. Practical work
Chemical engineeringis a hands on degree - every course worth its salt will give you
access and practice with industrial standard materials and machinery.
W H AT T O E X P E C T
AS A FUTURE
CHEMICAL
ENGINEER?
A chemical engineer designs and develops the processes that make a
diverse range of products. Their work focuses on changing the chemical,
biochemical and physical state of a substance to turn it into something else,
for example making plastic from oil.

They understand how to alter raw materials into required products while
taking into consideration health and safety and cost issues.

They work in a variety of industries including:

oil and gas;
pharmaceuticals;
energy;
water treatment;
food and drink;
plastics;
toiletries.

Modern chemical engineering is also concerned with pioneering valuable

new materials and techniques, such as nanotechnology, fuel cells and
FUTURE WORKS
AND POSITIONS
Here are ten (possible!) future careers of chemical
engineers:
1. Space Fuel Processor

With the imminent dawn of commercial space

travel e.g.Virgin Galactic; it is probable that
competition from other companies will drive the
price of travel down, making space flight more
common.

Space tourism will initially involve just two to

three hour sub-orbital flights. But this will
gradually develop into longer voyages with
flights lasting several days or weeks to allow
visits to distant planets or space stations.

Chemical engineers are currently working to

find new sources for fuels e.g. bio-refineries,
wind farms,hydrogencells, algae factories and
fusion technology. These could be applied to
fuel space travel.
2. Uranium Recycler

Alternative energies like solar, wind, tidal and hydrogen are going to become increasingly
important. But currently strategy highlights the leading role nuclear energy will have.
However, current thinking is that ashortage of uraniumdamages this plan.

Chemical engineers, working asuranium recyclers, will be needed to convert bomb-grade

uranium from warheads into low-enriched uranium for use in nuclear power plants to
ensure that the uranium shortage does not cause an energy crisis.

3. Genetic Pharmer

Farmers of the future will not only raise livestock and agricultural crops, they will also
grow plants than have been genetically engineered to grow therapeutic proteins,
pharmaceuticals and chemicals. Hence they are Genetic Pharmers

Chemical engineers are already working on producing vaccine carrying plants. A

recentexample of this has come to light in the ebola epidemic;tobacco plantshave been
engineered to grow the antibodies for the ebola serum.

I think this will be a key area in the future, where chemical engineers can have a huge role
driving these processes further to achieve better results.
4. Nano-manufacturer

With advances in nanotechnology already

offering a huge range of nanoscale processes, a
new group of nano-chemical engineers will be
required to manufacture thesesystems.

Nanotechnologyessentially is just the

manipulation of very small (or nano-the Greek
for dwarf) matter measuring 1 to 100
nanometres.

Some experts think that the next decade will see

an increase in manufacturing;Tim Page, senior
policy officer at the TUC UK said The UK will
identify niche sectors of manufacturing that are
highly skilled and knowledge-intensive, and this
will be led by nanotechnology advances.

This explosion of technological advances in

nanotechnology will lead to opportunities arising
for chemical engineers to lead the way.
6. Simplicity Expert

This job is a bit more abstract than some of the others, but when I saw it listed I thought
simplicity is what every chemical engineer strives to achieve. Through refining and
optimising processes surely all chemical engineers should be called simplicity experts?

Simplicity expertswill find ways to streamline and simplify day-to-day operations. In the
future to save time we will need to condense three days of work to half an hour of work
(although I already feel like I need to do this). Chemical engineers, who excel at math, have
an eye for design and a keen sense of planning will do well in this line of work.

The world we live in today seems complex, so we often assume that it can only get more
complicated in the future. The chemical engineers of the future will work to ensure that this
is not the case by finding ways to simplify and streamline our processes.

7. 3-D Food Printer Engineers

Advances in 3-D printing are reported in the news frequently. The printers work by bonding
material particles together layer by layer until a complete item is formed. It is suggested
that this could be applied to food.
8. Green Process Engineer

The focus of all chemical engineers is to work sustainably. Corporations and consumers
worldwide are increasingly embracing green technology e.g. at theIChemE awardsin
November we will be celebrating achievements in sustainable technology, water
management and energy efficiency.

This is not a new area but I can only see these roles becoming increasingly important as
new processes are used. Green process engineers will develop environmentally benign
chemical processes and products, select processes that minimize pollution, use less
hazardous materials and develop alternative reactions. This will all need to be done while
meeting emerging regulations and laws.
9. Galactic Engineer

In the US, President Obamas 2014 budget includes $105 million of funding for astronauts
to reach anasteroidby 2025. This in itself offers many opportunities for chemical
engineers, but if successful could lead to the mining of precious minerals in space.

Galactic chemical engineers will be needed to develop processes to mine distant asteroids
or planets; designing systems that can work in the extreme conditions that oute r space
entails. Being able to assess and then use these new materials could offer new resources,
elements and materials to improve the quality of life on Earth.
10. Climate Change Reversal Engineer

As the threats and impacts of climate change increase and manifest further, a new breed of
chemical engineers will be needed to help reduce and reverse the effects of climate
change. They will need to be able to apply multi-disciplinary solutions to solve arange of
problems.

Chemical engineersare currently working on models that predict the outcomes of climate
change and developing strategies to combat it. In the future they will need to work to
develop long-term strategies to intervene before an anticipated climatic disaster occurs, to
deal with climate events that are already happening and to try to help locations that have
been devastated by climate change.

This work will typically involve developing energy strategies, refining alternative energy
There were
systems many moreand
or protecting areas I could see
rebuilding chemical engineers leading the way in, for
ecosystems.
example; A University Professor, Energy Storage, Zero Water Strategies, Alternative Food
Design, Disposal Textiles Design, Land Fill Reclaim andGM Food.
RANGE OF
SAL A RY