what do chemical engineers do

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so that you know that chemical engineers do a lot of pretty fancy stuff

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  • Chemical Engineering,

    What do Chemical Engineers Do ?

    twouldtaketoolongtolistalltheproductsthatareimpactedbychemicalengineers,butknowingwhatindustriesemploythemmayhelpyoucomprehendthescopeoftheirwork.Chemical engineers work in manufacturing, pharmaceuticals, healthcare, design andconstruction, pulp and paper, petrochemicals, food processing, specialty chemicals,

    microelectronics,electronicandadvancedmaterials,polymers,businessservices,biotechnology,andenvironmentalhealthandsafetyindustries,amongothers.

    IWithin these industries, chemical engineers rely on their knowledge of mathematics andscienceparticularlychemistrytoovercometechnicalproblemssafelyandeconomically.And,of course, they draw upon and apply their engineering knowledge to solve any technicalchallenges they encounter. Dont make the mistake of thinking that chemical engineers onlymakethings,though.Theirexpertiseisalsoappliedintheareasoflaw,education,publishing,finance,andmedicine,aswellasinmanyotherfieldsthatrequiretechnicaltraining.

    Specifically,chemicalengineersimprovefoodprocessingtechniques,andmethodsofproducingfertilizers,toincreasethequantityandqualityofavailablefood.

    They also construct the synthetic fibers that make our clothes more comfortable and waterresistant;theydevelopmethodstomassproducedrugs,makingthemmoreaffordable;andtheycreatesafer,moreefficientmethodsofrefiningpetroleumproducts,makingenergyandchemicalsourcesmoreproductiveandcosteffective.

    Chemicalengineersalsodevelopsolutionstoenvironmentalproblems,suchaspollutioncontrolandremediation.

    Andyes,theyprocesschemicals,whichareusedtomakeorimprove justabouteverythingyouseearoundyou.

    Chemicalengineersfacemanyofthesamechallengesthatotherprofessionalsface,andtheymeetthesechallengesbyapplyingtheirtechnicalknowledge,communicationandteamworkskills;themost uptodate practices available; and hard work. Benefits include financial reward,recognitionwithinindustryandsociety,andthegratificationthatcomesfromworkingwiththeprocessesofnaturetomeettheneedsofsociety.

    Job Descriptions

    The specific responsibilitiesof chemicalengineers, thoughvaryingamong industriesandevenwithin the same company, canbe categorized ingeneral terms.Titles suchas processdesignengineerandprojectengineerwilldescribepositionsinmostindustries,whateverthetypeofwork,process,equipment,andproductthatisinvolved.

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  • JOB FUNCTION

    DESCRIPT ION

    ProcessDesignEngineer

    Designsmanufacturing facilitiesand the equipmentandmaterialusedinside. Process design engineers work with teams of engineers todevelop new or improved processes tomeet a companys productionneeds.

    EnvironmentalEngineer

    Developstechniquestoreduceandrecoverusablematerialsfromwastecreated during manufacture of a product. Designs waste storage andtreatment facilities, as well as pollution control strategies for plantoperations.Environmentalengineersmayberesponsibleformonitoringallsystems inafacilityforcompliancewithgovernmentenvironmentalregulations.

    Plant ProcessEngineer

    Provides technical support to staff and troubleshoots processes in aproduction facility to keep a plant running efficiently. Plant processengineersworkcloselywithequipmentoperatorstogetfeedbackontheoperations of each process and determine how to avoid shutdowns.Theymay also be involvedwith some designwork for improvementprojects.

    Process SafetyEngineer

    Designsandmaintainsplantsandprocesses thatare safer forworkersandcommunities.Processsafetyengineersmayconductsafetyanalysesofnewandexistingequipment,and trainemployeesonhow to safelyoperateanewpieceofequipment.

    ProjectEngineer

    Oversees thedesignandconstructionofspecificprocesses ina facility.After construction, they may assist in equipment testing, operatortraining,andplantstartup.Projectengineersmayberesponsibleforthedesign,andstartup,ofaspecificprocessinafacility.

    Consultant Works formanydifferentcustomersandbringsspecializedknowledgetoindividualprojects.Consultantsinaconstructioncompanymayworkwithteamsofengineerstodesignandconstructanexpansionprojectforapharmaceuticalcompany.

    ProductEngineer

    Followstheproductioncycleofaparticularproducttoensurethat it isbeingproducedaccordingtospecification.ProductengineersmayworkwithmarketingandR&Dtoensurethataproductwillmeettheneedsofcustomers,thenseetheproductthroughproduction.Theymayworkonnewproductsorspecialvariationsofexistingproducts.

    ManufacturingProductionEngineer

    Responsible for the daytoday operation of a specific manufacturingprocess. Manufacturing production engineers work directly withoperators to ensure that a particular product is made according tospecifications.

    Research &Development

    Seeksoutnewandmoreefficientwaysofusingandproducingexistingproducts. Explores and develops new processes and products and

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  • Engineer determines their usefulness and applicability. Chemical engineersworking in research and development may work with chemists andotherengineerstodevelopanewprocessornewproductthatwillbettermeetcustomerneeds.

    ProjectManager

    Overseestheoveralldesignandconstructionofafacility,thenmanagesongoing operations.Projectmanagersmaymanage a group ofprojectengineersduringthedesignandconstructionofanewfacility.

    Attorney Specializesinintellectualpropertylaw,patentlaw,technologytransfer,environmental compliance, and safety issues. Patent attorneys obtainpatents for clients and monitor the marketplace for possible patentinfringements.

    BiomedicalSpecialist

    Works alongside physicians to develop systems that track criticalchemicalprocessesinthebody.Biomedicalspecialistsmaybe involvedinthedesignofartificialorgans,suchasheartsandlungs.

    ComputerApplications& TechnologyEngineer

    Designs instrumentation and programs systems monitor and controlcertainprocesses.Automationengineersmaydesignsystemstomonitoraseriesofprocessesinachemical,petroleumorbiotechnologyfacility.

    TechnicalManager

    Responsiblefortheengineeringstaffandprogramsatafacility.Managespeople, research programs, and daily operations of the engineeringfunctions.TechnicalmanagersmayoverseetheR&Dprogramandworkwithplantmanagerstoplanandimplementthefundingprogramsandexpansionnecessarytodevelopanewproduct.

    BusinessCoordinator

    Develops budgets and capital projections for a facility or process.Business coordinators work closely with production and design teammembers toascertain theexactneedsofanewprocess, thenplans thecapitalneedsnecessarytoimplementtheprogram.

    Professor Instructs students in the field of chemical engineering and conductsresearch in pertinent areas. Professors may teach several classes inchemical engineering, be members on university committees, andconductresearchusingfundingfromgovernment,corporate,orprivategrants.

    QualityControlEngineer

    Monitors the manufacture of a product to ensure that it meetsspecifications.Also,testsmaterialstodeterminehowtheyperformovertime.Qualitycontrolengineersmaybringsamplesofaproductinfromafieldtest,orfromanormalapplication,andtestthemtodeterminehowspecificproperties, such as strength, color, andweatherability, changeovertime.

    RegulatoryAffairsEngineer

    Researches, develops, and monitors policies and procedures thatcompaniesmustfollowtoensuretheproperhandlingofchemicalsandchemicalcomponents.Chemicalengineers in regulatoryaffairsmaybe

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  • governmentemployees,whostudy theenvironmental impactofanewchemical,thenrecommendappropriateguidelinesforthechemicalsuse.

    TechnicalServicesEngineer

    Works with customers, usually onsite, to solve production problemscausedbyaspecificprocessormachine.Chemicalengineersworkingintechnicalservicesmayrepresentthemanufacturerofaspecificmachineto determine why it is not performing as designed. They often mustunderstand the other steps in the production process to determine ifthereisabreakdowninanotherarea.

    SalesandMarketingEngineer

    Assists customers in solving production and process problems byprovidingproductsandservices tomeet theirspecificneeds.Chemicalengineers in sales use their technical knowledge to sell chemicals,equipment, and other products, and provide followup services andtrainingwhereneeded.moreinformation

    Industry Profiles

    Chemicalengineersareemployedinmanyindustries,representingadiverserangeofproducts,employers,andservices.

    ChemicalProcessIndustries(CPI)TheCPIsfocusisonthedevelopment,extraction,isolation,combination,anduseofchemicalsandchemicalbyproducts.Specialtyareasinclude:

    AgriculturalChemicals Catalysts SpecialtyChemicals IndustrialGases Paints,Varnishes,Lacquers,Pigments,andInks Petrochemicals PetroleumProducts Plastics,SyntheticResins,andComposites Polymers PulpandPaper RubberandRubberProducts Soaps,Detergents,Perfumes,Fats,Oils,andCosmetics SyntheticFibers,Textiles,andFilms

    Chemical engineers in the CPI design and operate the processes and systems to combine,transport,separate,handle,recycle,andstorechemicalsandtheirbyproducts.

    BiotechnologyThebiotechnologyindustryuseslivingcellsandmaterialsproducedbycells,andbiologicaltechniquesdevelopedthroughresearch,tocreateproductsforuseinotherindustries.Workinthefieldofbiotechnologyhasproducedantibiotics,insulin,interferon,artificialorgans,recombinant DNA, techniques for waste reduction and recycling, and hybrid plants that areinsect resistant.Chemical engineers in the biotechnology industry develop and design theprocessestogrow,handle,andharvestlivingorganismsandtheirbyproducts.

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  • Design&Construction Thedesignand construction industryworkswithallother industrysectors todesign and build the facilities, specify themachinery, anddesign and troubleshootprocesses thatwillallowcompanies tooperatesafeandefficientplants.Chemicalengineers inthedesign&construction industryare involvedwithprocessdesignandprojectmanagement,andworkcloselywithotherengineeringdisciplines.

    Electronics Chemical engineers in the electronics industry are involved with materialdevelopment and production, and process control equipment design. Knowing how processequipmentinachemicalplant,forexample,issupposedtofunctiongivesthechemicalengineeranadvantage indesigningcontrolequipment tomonitoreachprocess.Chemicalengineersarealso involved in themanufacturingofmicrochipsand intricatecircuitry,using their training todevelopthematerialsandprocessesthatallowsuchcircuitstobeproperlyassembled.Chemicalengineerscontributionstothefieldincludeproducingcomponentsthatbetterdissipateheat,andoperatefaster.

    Environmental,Safety&HealthInalmosteveryindustry,chemicalengineersareinvolvedinareas thatconcern theenvironment,wasteminimization,andpersonalhealthandsafety.Witheveryprocess that involves theuse andmanipulationof rawmaterials, somebyproducts areproduced.Thechemicalengineerisemployedtominimizetheproductionofbyproducts,iftheyare of no use, or find an appropriate use for them.Chemical engineers helpminimizewastethroughprocessmonitoringandcontrol,andbydesigningnewprocessesthataremoreefficient.Thiscategoryalso includes thosechemicalengineerswhoare involved inwaste treatmentanddisposal,andprocesssafetyandlossprevention.Processsafetyinvolveshowpeoplesafelyworkwithandhandlecertainmaterials.

    Food & Beverages The food and beverage industry includes the handling, processing,preparation,packaging,andpreservationoffoodandbeverages.Chemicalengineersinthefoodandbeveragesindustryformulatenewproductstomeetconsumerdemand,changeingredientsforbetterflavor,changehandlingprocessesformoreconsistenttexture,andfreezedryproductsordesignasepticpackagingtoensurealongershelflife.

    Fuels Those industries that fallunder thecategoryof fuels includepetroleumandpetroleumproductsproduction,and refining,aswellasnuclearandsynthetic fuels.Typicallyknown fortheirwork in refineries,chemicalengineersarealso involved indevelopingalternativeenergysources.Chemicalengineersinthefuelsindustriesworkonproductionprocesses,environmentalmonitoring,researchanddevelopment,andprocesssafety.

    AdvancedMaterialsIndustriesinthecategoryofadvancedmaterialsusechemicalengineerstohelp develop materials with different properties such as weight, strength, heat transfer,reflectivity,andpurity.Industriesthatemploychemicalengineersforthesepurposesinclude:

    Aerospace Automotive Glass Ceramics Electronics Refractories Metals MetallurgicalProducts MineralsProcessing PhotographicProducts

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  • Other Chemicalengineersarenot limited to those industries thatproduceproductsmadebycombining, refining, or processing chemicals. The technical training that chemical engineersreceivealsomakesthemwellsuitedforworkinthefollowingareas:

    Business Finance Insurance Law Publications Education Government

    Chemical engineers can use their training to manage, analyze, and insure businesses in thechemical process industries. They canwork as patent attorneys, applying their knowledge tointellectualproperty.Chemicalengineersalsoworkastechnicalwriters,teachersandprofessors.Within the government, theUSEnvironmentalProtectionAgency,Department ofEnergy,USNavy, NASA, Nuclear Regulatory Commission, and Department of Agriculture,tonameafew,allemploychemicalengineers.

    The Workplace

    SalaryFactsforChemicalEngineers

    According to the Fall 2003 report of the National Association of Colleges and Employers,chemicalengineeringgraduatesrankamongthehighestpaidwithintheengineeringdisciplines.AsofSeptember2003,averageofferswereup2.4% from2002, increasing to$52,384 from lastyears$51,137.Thetopthreeemployersmakingofferstochemicalengineers in2003werebasicchemicals,petroleumandcoalproducts,and food/beverage industry.Themostoffersmade tochemical engineers in 2003 based on job function were overwhelmingly chemical processengineeringwiththeaverageofferbeing$53,989.

    Theaverageoffersbydegreelevelwere:

    Bachelors: $52,384

    Masters: $57,857

    Doctoral: $70,729

    Oftheoffersbycurriculumforalltypesofemployers,womenreceivedoffersaveraging$52,857andmen$51,921.Theseofferswereupfrom2002,whentheaverageofferstowomenandmenwere$51,755and$51,302respectively.

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  • Thefollowingisasamplingofaverageoffersbyemploymentsector:

    Sector Avg.Offer

    Chemicals(Basic) $54,088

    Computer & Electronic ProductsManufacturing

    $49,198

    Food,Beverage,&Tobacco $52,771

    PaperManufacturing $52,824

    Petroleum&CoalProducts $55,754

    Pharmaceuticals&MedicineMfg. $53,444

    OtherManufacturingEmployers(NEC) $51,096

    Government(Federal) $40,652

    ConsultingServices $47,635

    EngineeringServices $48,775

    Source:SalarySurvey:Astudyof20022003beginningoffers.NationalAssociationofCollegesandEmployers.Fall2003.Bethlehem,PA.

    Employers

    There are literally thousands of companies that employ chemical engineers. Take a look atIndustryProfilestoseethelistofindustriesthatemploychemicalengineers.Then,thinkofallthecompanieswithineachofthose industries.Togiveyouan ideaof thebreadthofopportunitiesavailable,letslookatoneexample:theGovernmentSector.

    TheUnitedStatesGovernmentemployschemicalengineers,becausemanyofitsbranchesneedtheexpertisethatachemicalengineerbringstothejob.

    SomeGovernmentAgenciesThatEmployChemicalEngineers

    CoastGuard

    DepartmentofAgriculture

    DepartmentofCommerce

    DepartmentofDefense

    DepartmentofEducation

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  • DepartmentofEnergy

    DepartmentofHealth&HumanServices

    DepartmentofLabor

    DepartmentofState

    DepartmentoftheAirForce

    DepartmentoftheArmy

    DepartmentoftheInterior

    DepartmentoftheNavy

    DepartmentoftheTreasury

    DepartmentofVeteransAffairs

    EnvironmentalProtectionAgency

    Food&DrugAdministration

    NuclearRegulatoryCommission

    Patent&TrademarkOffice

    Chemicalengineersarealsoemployedatthestateandlocalgovernmentlevelsaswell.

    Thus, in only one employment sector, there are more than 20 groups within it that employchemicalengineers.Gettheidea?

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