What Do Chemical Engineers Do?

Some chemical engineers work in factories.

Chemical engineers can work in many areas of manufacturing and industry, as many engineering processes make use of chemicals. Chemical engineers use knowledge of how the chemical processes work on a large scale and apply that knowledge to improve products.

Manufacturing

Chemical engineers often work in manufacturing to help design and coordinate any chemical processes used in making goods. They help to manufacture goods such as pharmaceuticals, organic products, textiles, industrial chemicals such as paint and fertilizer, composite materials, food and electronics. They make sure that these goods have the best quality and the cheapest manufacturing costs possible.

Environment

Chemical engineers also use their knowledge of chemical processes to help counteract the effects of chemicals on the environment. They help companies and organizations to reduce pollution in the air, soil and water as well as assist manufacturers in creating a manufacturing process that causes less pollution.

Chemical Production

Other chemical engineers work directly with chemicals to see how they work in mass quantities. In order to manufacture large quantities of chemicals or use a significant amount of chemicals in a manufacturing process, chemical engineers have to study the properties of each chemical, such as the polymerization or oxidation qualities for that specific type of chemical.

References

• American Institute of Chemical Engineers: What Do ChemE's Do?
• University of Utah Department of Chemical Engineering: What Do Chemical Engineers Do?
• California Employment Development Department: Chemical Engineers