A History of Chemical

Engineering

CHEE 2404
 What is a Chemical Engineer?
a) An Engineer who manufactures
chemicals
b) A Chemist who works in a factory
c) A glorified Plumber?

CHEE 2404:Industrial Chemistry 2

 None of the above
• No universally accepted definition of ChE.
• However, aimed towards design of processes that
change materials from one form to another more
useful (and so more valuable) form, economically,
safely and in an environmentally acceptable way.
• Application of basic sciences (math, chemistry,
physics & biology) and engineering principles to
the development, design, operation & maintenance
of processes to convert raw materials to useful
products and improve the human environment.
CHEE 2404:Industrial Chemistry 3
 Chemical Engineering
• ChE involves specifying equipment, operating
conditions, instrumentation and process control for
all these changes.
Chemistry
Air Mathematics

Natural Gas

Coal
Economics
Minerals

Energy
Physics
Biology
CHEE 2404:Industrial Chemistry 4
 What are the fields of Ch E?
The traditional fields of ChE are:
• petrochemicals, petroleum and natural gas
processing
• plastics and polymers
• pulp and paper
• instrumentation and process control
• energy conversion and utilisation
• environmental control
CHEE 2404:Industrial Chemistry 5
 What are the fields of Ch E?
• Biotechnology
• Biomedical and Biochemical
• food processing
• composite materials, corrosion and protective
coatings
• manufacture of microelectronic components
• Pharmaceuticals

CHEE 2404:Industrial Chemistry 6

 What do Chemical Engineers do?
• Regarding Engineers: it is not what we do, but how we think about
the world, that makes us different. We use all that we know to
produce the best solution to a problem (problems that engineers face
usually have more than one solution).
• Engineers use techniques of Quantitative Engineering Analysis to
design/synthesize products (materials, devices), services, and processes
even though they have an imperfect understanding of chemical,
physical, biological, or human factors affecting them.
• Engineers operate under the constraint of producing a product or
service that is timely, competitive, reliable, within the financial
means of their company, and is consistent with its philosophy.

CHEE 2404:Industrial Chemistry 7

 What do Chemical Engineers do?

Thus, they are involved in a wide range of

activities such as:
• design, development and operation of process
plants
• research and development of novel products and
processes
• management of technical operations and sales

CHEE 2404:Industrial Chemistry 8