What is Chemical Engineering?

Chemical engineering is a field that develops chemical processes to transform raw materials into useful products as well as designing and maintaining chemical plants. This field combines chemistry and engineering knowledge from various fields such as biotechnology, nanotechnology, mineral processing, synthetic fibers, petroleum refining plants, etc.

What do Chemical Engineers do?

The job of a chemical engineer involves the design, supervision, construction, installation and operation of chemical plants and equipment to make chemical products. He also undertakes research and development activities in bio-tech firms to discover new drugs. Apart from this, they also work in the fields of Petroleum Refining, Fertilizer Technology, Food Processing, Paints and Dies, Recycling Metals, Cosmetics, Mineral Based Industries etc.

Various courses in Chemical Engineering

Recent developments in the field of chemical engineering have led to the development of many other advanced fields such as nanotechnology, bio-engineering, bio-molecular engineering, material processing, etc. Given the increasing importance of this field in our daily life, nowadays the courses of chemical engineering are being liked by the students. The following courses are offered at various levels in Chemical Engineering:

• Diploma courses – This course offers students a polytechnic diploma in chemical engineering. Duration or duration of this course is 3 years.
• Undergraduate courses – This course offers students B.Tech (Bachelor of Technology) degree in Chemical Engineering. This is a 4 year duration course.
• Postgraduate Courses – This course offers students M.Tech (Master of Technology) degree in Chemical Engineering. This is a course of 2 years duration.
• Doctoral Courses – This is a research-based course to obtain a doctoral degree or PhD (Doctor of Philosophy) in Chemical Engineering.

Some universities and colleges also offer integrated degree programs in Chemical Engineering, ie MTech (Master of Technology) degrees. Duration of these courses is 5 years and students can join these courses after completing 12th class.

Sub-specializations offered in Chemical Engineering

Some of the popular sub-specializations offered in Chemical Engineering are:

• Biomedical Engineering – This field applies engineering principals and concepts in the fields of biology and health care. Bioengineers often work closely with doctors, therapists and researchers to develop systems, equipment, and devices to solve medical problems.
• Process Engineering – The focus of processing engineering is on designing, operation, control, optimization and intensification of chemical, physical and biological processes. Process engineering involves many industries such as, Chemical, Petrochemical, Agriculture, Mineral Processing, Advanced Material, Food, Pharmaceutical, Software Development, Automotive and Biotechnological Industries.
• Food Processing – This field involves the study of the techniques used to convert raw materials into useful food products. It also deals with improving the methods of processing food, preserving as well as processing methods and finding new ways. This field covers all the topics related to food products like quality control procedures, food adulteration, controlling the nutritional value of food products.
• Electrochemical – This field deals with the application of electrochemical phenomina such as electrocynthesis of chemicals, electrowinning, electrochemical separations and chorogen.
• Polymers – Polymer engages in the development and testing of engineering related to field plastics or related equipment and processes.

Key subjects covered in Chemical Engineering

Some of the main topics covered in Chemical Engineering are as follows:

• Air Pollution Control Engineering
• Chemical Engineering Economics and Plant Design
• Chemical Process Industries
• Chemical Reaction Engineering
• Environmental Pollution Control and Safety Management
• Fertilizer Technology
• Fundamentals of Heat and Mass Transfer

Instrumentation and Process Control

• Introduction of electrical and electronics circuits
• Introduction to numerical analysis

How to get admission in various courses in Chemical Engineering?

There are many indigenous chemical industries in India. Nowadays, many multinational companies are also being established in India. Due to this trend, there are many opportunities for students in the field of chemical engineering. It is one of the most comprehensive fields of field engineering for the purpose of research and development. Due to the numerous industries providing work opportunities to chemical engineers, many students are taking interest in this field. Therefore, many universities and colleges have included this course under their academic programs.

Eligibility Criteria for various engineering courses

• Diploma courses – Students can do this course after passing the 10th class exam from a recognized education board. Students must have passed the main subjects like Science, Mathematics and English in 12th class.
• Undergraduate courses – To take admission in the UG program, the student has to give the appropriate entrance exams. Apart from this, the student should have passed 12th class with core subjects like Physics, Chemistry and Mathematics. Students must also give various entrance exams organized by state, central and private universities.
• Post Graduate Courses – To take admission in PG programs, a student must have a Bachelor of Engineering degree in a subject affiliated to a recognized university. The student should have obtained good marks even in the appropriate entrance exams.
• Doctoral Courses – To take admission in the doctoral program, a student must have a postgraduate degree in an allied subject from a recognized university, ie M.Tech degree in Chemical Engineering.

Entrance exams for chemical engineering courses

Entrance examinations are conducted at national, state and university level for taking admission in various subjects of engineering. To take admission in Chemical Engineering, students can give the following popular exams:

For Undergraduate courses:

• Joint Entrance Exam – Main (JEE Main)
• Joint Entrance Exam – Advanced (JEE Advanced)
• VIT Engineering Entrance Exam (VITEEE)
• The Maharashtra Common Entrance Test (MHTCET)
• Uttar Pradesh State Entrance Exam (UPSEE)
• Birla Institute of Technology and Science Admission Test (BITSAT)

For Postgraduate courses:

• VIT University Master’s Entrance Exam (VITMEE)
• Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering (GATE)
• Birla Institute of Technology and Science Higher Degree Exam (BITS HD)

Top 10 Institutes for Chemical Engineering

The Indian Institutes of Technologies, ie IITs, are considered as the best colleges for engineering courses in India. As per NIRF ranking year 2018, following are the top 10 engineering colleges affiliated to UGC in India:

• Indian Institute of Technology Madras, Madras
• Indian Institute of Technology Bombay, Bombay
• Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur, Kharagpur
• Indian Institute of Technology Delhi, Delhi
• Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur, Kanpur
• Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee, Roorkee
• Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati, Guwahati
• Anna University, Chennai
• Jadavpur University, Kolkata
• Indian Institute of Technology Hyderabad, Hyderabad

Career Prospects for Chemical Engineers

Chemical engineers are commonly called ‘Universal Engineers’ for having a lot of knowledge in the fields of engineering and chemistry. His work mainly aims to convert natural and waste materials into useful and less harmful chemical products. Due to the excellent background of these people, they can work in various industries such as, Oil and Gas Industries, Food Industries, Energy Industries, Chemical and Allied Products, Utility Companies, Pharmaceuticals, Government Departments etc.

Popular job profiles for chemical engineers

Architectural and Engineering Managers – The work of Architectural and Engineering Managers is to plan, direct and coordinate the various work done in architectural and engineering companies.

Biomedical Engineers – This field combines engineering principals with medical sciences to design and build equipment, computer software, computer systems, etc. used in healthcare industries.

Chemical Technicians – These people use specialized instruments and techniques to help the work of chemists and chemical researchers to develop, produce and test chemical products and processes.

Chemical Material Scientists – Chemical material scientists study substances at atomic and molecular levels to analyze the ways in which substances interact with each other. They make use of their knowledge to check the quality of goods manufactured as well as making new products.

Nuclear Engineers – Nuclear Engineers work in research and development for systems, instruments and processes used to benefit from nuclear energy and radiation. For example, work related to equipment used for medical diagnosis and treatment.

Popular recruiters for Chemical Engineers

Following are some of the well-known recruiters for Chemical Engineers:

Government companies

• Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited (HPCL)
• Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited (BPCL)
• Indian Oil Corporation Limited
• GAIL Limited
• HLL Lifecare Limited

Private companies

• Piramal Healthcare Limited
• Ranbaxy Laboratories Limited
• Physer Inc.
• Nirma