Adam Ferrari | What Is Chemical Engineering? Is It the Right Course for Me?

Choosing a career in engineering can be a difficult decision due to the wide array of options offered by Universities and Colleges. The first step is identifying your passions and interests and to see how well they match each of the engineering disciplines. Adam Ferrari says chemical engineering is one of the four major disciplines along with mechanical, electrical, and civil.

Chemical engineering involves the processes which determine how raw materials are transformed into useful products for industrial and commercial consumption. An example of such a transformation is how large amounts of tuna are caught by a fishing charter and within a short period of time, are preserved and presented as canned food in a supermarket. Thank chemical engineers for this convenience. Chemical engineers reflect on the cost, usability, safety, as well as environmental and social effects of the processes and products they are developing. They often work in mining and mineral processing, petrochemicals, food production, and the pharmaceutical industry. Those who enjoy the study of chemistry in high school are well suited to this discipline.

The sub-disciplines focus on one key aspect of the raw material to end product process described in the preceding paragraph. The chemical engineering course on the other hand considers the entire process. The major sub-disciplines of chemical engineering are described below.

Process

Process engineers focus specifically on the processes used to transform materials into products by utilizing computer-aided technology. They can improve the execution of a process by controlling its design, function, and implementation. Process engineering can be dry and repetitive given that it only considers the process and not the end product. Generally, those who excel in this field do not consider processes to be dry and repetitive.

Materials

Materials engineering is the study of materials and how they can be chosen for a specific application. Material selection demands diligent research and intricate testing methods, to identify the material which has the most suitable properties and is also cost-effective. Whilst the majority of engineers can choose a material for a specific application, materials engineers also deal with material extraction and manipulation. Nanotechnology is a new area of research in this field and may interest those who appreciate modern technology.

Petroleum

Adam Ferrari says petroleum engineering focuses on providing fuel for vehicles and machinery. Petroleum engineers are responsible for extracting gas and oil from underground mines before processing and refining them. A large emphasis is placed on the extraction process given the scarceness of oil in the current market. Petroleum engineers are often categorized into the reservoir, drilling, or production specialists and may rotate through these positions throughout their careers.

Plastics

Plastics engineering is a specialized sub-discipline of materials engineering involving the development and manufacturing of plastic materials.

If you can identify yourself with any of the above sub-disciplines you are halfway to deciding on an engineering course. If you are interested in the study of chemistry but are not particularly passionate about a specific field, then it is advisable to choose a chemical engineering course that will expose you to a broad range of subjects. Once enrolled in a course, it is always possible to transfer into a related discipline should you change your mind.