Introduction to Chemical Engineering

Overview of Lecture
What is an engineer?
Engineering 1: Chemical Engineering

The discipline:
Where did chemical engineering come from?
What is chemical engineering?
What do chemical engineers do?
What is a chemical engineer?
Where do you find chemical engineers?
Some examples of where chemical engineering has come from,
where it is now and what it will potentially be in the future.

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© Mark J. Biggs, 2005

Introduction to Chemical Engineering

What is an engineer?
“Engineers can do for 1p what a scientist can do for £1”
Engineering 1: Chemical Engineering

Unknown
“Engineering is the art of directing the great sources of power in
nature for the use and convenience of man”
Thomas Tredgold, 1828
“Part Einstein, part bulldog. Somebody who makes the difficult
routine and the impossible probable”
Unknown
Engineers find and implement solutions for the needs
of society that are economically viable,
environmentally sustainable and morally sound.
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© Mark J. Biggs, 2005

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 Introduction to Chemical Engineering
Where did chemical engineering come from?
Engineering 1: Chemical Engineering

George E. Davis: 1880+

Industrial Revolution: It brought

not only wealth but also illness
and environmental damage

G. Agricola published first

process engineering text in 1556 MIT founded first ChE
department in 1887 1.3
© Mark J. Biggs, 2005

Introduction to Chemical Engineering

Where did chemical engineering come from?
Prehistory:
Engineering 1: Chemical Engineering

G. Agricola published first process engineering text in 1556.

Mechanical engineers + chemists designed, built and ran processes.
Concerned with getting the job done.
Little standardization.
Gross inefficiencies and large environmental impact.
Founding of discipline:
George E. Davis and the IChemE – 1880 onwards.
First departments - MIT in the US (1887), UMIST (1900s).
‘Unit operations’ and the AIChE in 1915.
Many countries did without them until more recently (Germany).

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© Mark J. Biggs, 2005

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 Introduction to Chemical Engineering
What is chemical engineering
Definition found in a standard dictionary:
Engineering 1: Chemical Engineering

“A branch of engineering which involves the design and operation of

large scale chemical plants, petrochemical refineries, and the like.”

Hmmm …

Another definition (from the WWW):

“Concerned with processes that cause substances to undergo
required changes in their chemical or physical composition,
structure, energy content or physical state.”

A picture is worth a 1000 words …

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© Mark J. Biggs, 2005

Introduction to Chemical Engineering

What is chemical engineering
Engineering 1: Chemical Engineering

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© Mark J. Biggs, 2005

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 Introduction to Chemical Engineering
What is chemical engineering
Selenium (Se) tablets
Engineering 1: Chemical Engineering

100 µg in 385 mg = 0.03%

How easy it is to pour a

small amount of powder
accurately?
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© Mark J. Biggs, 2005

Introduction to Chemical Engineering

A chemical engineer is more than a chemist
Engineering 1: Chemical Engineering

Chemistry Biology
Product Engineer
(chemical, paint, drugs, silicon chips, …)

Process Engineer
(to make product)

Mathematics Physics

Management Economics

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 Introduction to Chemical Engineering
Chemical engineers are everywhere
Oil industry
Engineering 1: Chemical Engineering

Chemical and allied products

Process plant manufacture and construction
Pharmaceutical (aspirin, hormones, …, drug delivery)
Personal care (cosmetics, moisturizers, …)
Household products (washing powder, …)
Food and drink
Materials (silicon chips, porous media, catalysts, …)
Finance sector
Consultants
Academia
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© Mark J. Biggs, 2005

Introduction to Chemical Engineering

Traditional view of chemical engineering
Engineering 1: Chemical Engineering

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© Mark J. Biggs, 2005

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 Introduction to Chemical Engineering
Modern view of chemical engineering
Small scale processes (protein quantification via microfluidics)
Engineering 1: Chemical Engineering

What chemical engineering is involved? John B Fenn

Nobel Laureate
Molecules (proteins + solvent)
Reaction
Flow
Interfacial phenomena
Unit operations in miniature! 1.11
© Mark J. Biggs, 2005

Introduction to Chemical Engineering

Modern view of chemical engineering
Interface with life sciences …
Engineering 1: Chemical Engineering

Insert into gap Bone growth through matrix

Why chemical engineers developed method?

Bone growth process involves diffusion and reaction.
Bone and the various components are materials.
Where do chemical engineers more widely get involved?
Large quantities of matrix and hormone to pharma standards. 1.12
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 Introduction to Chemical Engineering
The future of chemical engineering
Smart molecules, nanostructures, nanofactories, …
Engineering 1: Chemical Engineering

(a) H
O O

Me Chromophore

(b) Excited
0 state

−1

−2
120
Energy (103 cm−1)

Ground
0 state

−1

−2

−3

−4

−5
180

−0.4 0.0 0.4

O − H − O coordinate (Å)
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© Mark J. Biggs, 2005

Introduction to Chemical Engineering

The future of chemical engineering
Exploration & exploitation of extra-terrestrial environments …
Engineering 1: Chemical Engineering

Earth provides ~1/3 of future needs

Mars, for example, has Al2O3, Fe2O3, MgO, TiO2, Cl, …
Challenges: gravity, temperatures, pressures and fuel.
Need to design suitable processes; e.g.
CO2

CH4

Mars Compressor and

separator CO2 reduction H2O
Atmosphere
Electrolysis O2

H2 recycle

Ar/N2

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 Introduction to Chemical Engineering
Summary
Chemical engineering is about producing required products in
Engineering 1: Chemical Engineering

an economic, safe and environmentally friendly way.

The products can vary from chemicals, to emulsions, to silicon
chips, to nappies, to bread and the list goes on.
Chemical engineering involves bringing together science,
mathematics, economics, management and common sense.
Chemical engineering is constantly evolving ….
‘Developed World’: Bulk chemicals Specialty Products
increasingly engaging with other disciplines
moving to new fields of endeavour (bio, nano, space, …)

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© Mark J. Biggs, 2005

Introduction to Chemical Engineering

Further information
History of chemical engineering and what it is (in part):
Engineering 1: Chemical Engineering

www.chemheritage.org/EducationalServices/chemach/
www.pafko.com/history/h_intro.html
Further info on chemical engineering
www.che.ufl.edu/www-che
www.ciw.uni-karlsruhe.de/chem-eng.html
Chemical Engineering societies:
UK: IChemE (www.icheme.org), SCI (www.soci.org)
US: AIChE (www.aiche.org)
Some industry publications
Chemical Engineering News (www.pubs.acs.org/cen).
Progress in Chemical Engineering (www.cepmagazine.org). 1.16
© Mark J. Biggs, 2005