What do chemical engineers do?
Chemical, process and biochemical engineers are involved in the design, modification and operation of processes to produce the things we rely on everyday - chocolate, petrol, cosmetics, electricity, cars, aspirin, the list is endless...
They are employed across a huge variety of sectors including:
- Chemicals and allied products
- Pharmaceuticals
- Energy
- Water
- Food and drink
- Materials
- Mining and minerals
- Oil and gas
- Process plant and equipment
- Biotechnology
- Business and management
- Consultancy
Chemical engineers play a crucial role in everyday life. To find out more about the real life chemical engineers working in today's industries, please click here.
Chemical engineers make decisions concerning:
- Which reaction pathway should be used to make the product?
- How to purify the desired product
- How to control the process and ensure it's safe
- How to make the process cost effective
- What should be done with any by-products formed?
- How to reduce the amounts of unwanted by-products
- What to do with unreacted raw materials
- How to recycle energy within the process
For examples of the types of jobs available to chemical engineers, visit the job roles page.