Chemical Engineer Contribution and Profile

Lecture -2

Dewi Tristantini

Departemen Teknik Kimia Universitas Indonesia

Course Content

Chemical Engineer Contribution Chemical Engineer Profile

Chemical Engineer Contribution

10 Greatest Achievements of Chemical Engineering

The Atom, as Large as Life: Biology, medicine, metallurgy, and power generation have all been revolutionized by our ability to split the atom and isolate isotopes. Chemical engineers played a prominent role in achieving both of these results. Early on facilities such as DuPont's Hanford Chemical Plant used these techniques to bring an abrupt conclusion to World War II with the production of the atomic bomb. Today these technologies have found uses in more peaceful applications. Medical doctors now use isotopes to monitor bodily functions; quickly identifying clogged arteries and veins. Similarly biologists gain invaluable insight into the basic mechanisms of life, and archaeologists can accurately date their historical findings. The Plastic Age: The 19th Century saw enormous advances in polymer chemistry. However, it required the insights of chemical engineers during the 20th Century to make mass produced polymers a viable economic reality. When a plastic called Bakelite was introduced in 1908 it sparked the dawn of the "Plastic Age" and quickly found uses in electric insulation, plugs & sockets, clock bases, iron cooking handles, and fashionable jewelry (see OIL). Today plastic has become so common that we hardly notice it exists. Yet nearly all aspects of modern life are positively and profoundly impacted by plastic.

The Human Reactor: Chemical engineers have long studied complex chemical processes by breaking them up into smaller "unit operations." Such operations might consist of heat exchangers, filters, chemical reactors and the like. Fortunately this concept has also been applied to the human body. The results of such analysis have helped improve clinical care, suggested improvements in diagnostic and therapeutic devices, and led to mechanical wonders such as artificial organs. Medical doctors and chemical engineers continue to work hand in hand to help us live longer fuller lives. Wonder Drugs for the Masses: Chemical engineers have been able to take small amounts of antibiotics developed by people such as Sir Arthur Fleming (who discovered penicillin in 1929) and increase their yields several thousand times through mutation and special brewing techniques. Today's low price, high volume, drugs owe their existence to the work of chemical engineers. This ability to bring once scarce materials to all members of society through industrial creativity is a defining characteristic of chemical engineering (see Plastics above, Synthetic Fibers, Food, and Synthetic Rubber below). Synthetic Fibers, a Sheep's Best Friend: From blankets and clothes to beds and pillows, synthetic fibers keep us warm, comfortable, and provide a good night's rest. Synthetic fibers also help reduce the strain on natural sources of cotton and wool, and can be tailored to specific applications. For example; nylon stockings make legs look young and attractive while bullet proof vests keep people out of harm's way.

Liquefied Air, Yes it's Cool: When air is cooled to very low temperatures (about 320 deg F below zero) it condenses into a liquid. Chemical engineers can then separate out the different components. The purified nitrogen can be used to recover petroleum, freeze food, produce semiconductors, or prevent unwanted reactions while oxygen is used to make steel, smelt copper, weld metals together, and support the lives of patients in hospitals. The Environment, We All Have to Live Here: Chemical engineers provide economical answers to clean up yesterday's waste and prevent tomorrow's pollution. Catalytic converters, reformulated gasoline, and smoke stack scrubbers all help keep the world clean. Additionally, chemical engineers help reduce the strain on natural materials through synthetic replacements, more efficient processing, and new recycling technologies. Food, "It's What's For Dinner": Plants need large amounts of nitrogen, potassium, and phosphorus to grow in abundance. Chemical fertilizers can help provide these nutrients to crops, which in turn provide us with a bountiful and balanced diet. Fertilizers are especially important in certain regions of Asia and Africa where food can sometimes be scarce (See NITROGEN). Advances in biotechnology also offer the potential to further increase worldwide food production. Finally, chemical engineers are at the forefront of food processing where they help create better tasting and most nutritious foods.

Petrochemicals, "Black Gold, Texas Tea": Chemical engineers have helped develop processes like catalytic cracking to break down the complex organic molecules found in crude oil into much simpler species. These building blocks are then separated and recombined to form many useful products including: gasoline, lubricating oils, plastics, synthetic rubber, and synthetic fibers. Petroleum processing is therefore recognized as an enabling technology, without which, much of modern life would cease to function (see OIL). Running on Synthetic Rubber: Chemical engineers played a prominent role in developing today's synthetic rubber industry. During World War II, synthetic rubber capacity suddenly became of paramount importance. This was because modern society runs on rubber. Tires, gaskets, hoses, and conveyor belts (not to mention running shoes) are all made of rubber. Whether you drive, bike, roller-blade, or run; odds are you are running on rubber.

Chemical Engineer Profile

BS ChE Employment Pattern

ChE Employment Pattern

ChE Employment Pattern

Time to find first job

BS Starting Salaries
CHE leads all fields

Boston Globe, April25, 2003

BS. Salary comparison

A chemical engineer is more than a chemist

ChE Functions

Typical functions of ChE

Attorney Specializes in intellectual property law, patent law, technology transfer, environmental compliance, and safety issues. Patent attorneys obtain patents for clients and monitor the marketplace for possible patent infringements. Biomedical Specialist Works alongside physicians to develop systems that track critical chemical processes in the body. Biomedical specialists may be involved in the design of artificial organs, such as hearts and lungs. Computer Applications and Technology Engineer Designs instrumentation and programs systems to control certain processes. Automation engineers may develop ways to monitor a series of interactive steps in chemical, petroleum, or biotechnology facilities. Consultant Works for many different customers and brings specialized knowledge to individual projects. Consultants in a construction company may work with teams of engineers to design and construct an expansion for a chemical company. Most consultants have several years of professional experience. Process Design Engineer Designs manufacturing facilities and the equipment and materials used inside. Process design engineers work with teams of engineers to develop new or improved processes to meet a company's production needs. Environmental Engineer Develops techniques to recover usable materials, and reduce waste created during manufacture of a product. Environmental engineers design air pollution control and wastewater treatment systems, waste storage and treatment facilities, and soil and groundwater clean-up systems. They also may be responsible for monitoring all systems in a facility for compliance with environmental regulations.

Technical Manager Responsible for the engineering staff and programs at a facility. Manages people, research programs, and daily operations of the engineering functions. Technical managers may oversee R&D. With plant managers, they may plan and implement the funding and expansion programs necessary to develop a new product. Business Coordinator Develops budgets and capital projections for a facility or process. Business coordinators work closely with production and design team members to determine the exact needs of a new process, then plan the capital needs necessary to implement the program. Plant Process Engineer Provides technical support to staff and troubleshoots processes in a production facility to keep a plant running efficiently. Plant process engineers work closely with equipment operators to get feedback on the operations of each process and determine how to avoid shut-downs. They may also be involved with design work for improving methods of production. Process Safety Engineer Designs and maintains plants and processes that are safer for workers and communities. Process safety engineers may conduct safety analyses of new and existing equipment, and train employees on how to operate a new piece of equipment safely. Product Engineer Follows the production cycle of a particular product to ensure it is meeting specification. Product engineers may work with marketing and R&D to ensure that a product will meet the needs of customers, then see the product through production. They may work on new products or variations of existing products. Manufacturing Production Engineer Responsible for the day-to-day operation of a specific manufacturing process. Manufacturing production engineers work directly with operators to ensure that a particular product is made according to specifications.

Quality Control Engineer Monitors the manufacture of product to ensure that quality standards are maintained. Quality control engineers may bring samples of a product in from a field test, or from a normal application, and test them to determine how specific properties -- such as strength, color, and weatherability -- change over time. Regulatory Affairs Engineer Researches, develops, and monitors policies and procedures to ensure the proper handling of chemicals and chemical components. Chemical engineers in regulatory affairs may be government employees who study the environmental impact of a new chemical, then recommend appropriate guidelines for the chemical's use. Research and Development Engineer Seeks out new and more efficient ways of using and producing existing products. Explores and develops new processes and products and determines their usefulness and applicability. Chemical engineers working in R&D may work with chemists and other engineers to develop a new process or new product that will better meet customer needs. Sales and Marketing Engineer Assists customers in solving production and process problems by providing products and services to meet their specific needs. Chemical engineers in sales use their technical knowledge to sell chemicals, equipment, and other products, and provide follow-up services and training, where needed. Technical Services Engineer Works with customers, usually on-site, to solve production problems caused by a process or machine. Chemical engineers working in technical services may represent the manufacturer of a machine to determine why it is not performing as designed. They often must understand the other steps in the production process to determine if there is a breakdown in another area.

Assignment II
1. Buat list 10 jenis kontribusi ChE dalam pemenuhan kebutuhan kehidupan sehari-hari dan lengkapi pula dengan fotonya (1halaman) 2. Kalau anda nanti lulus sebagai sarjana Teknik Kimia, sebutkan minimum 3 jenis peran yang akan anda kontribusikan pada masyarakat baik di tingkat lokal maupun global (1/2halaman) 3.Apa yang Sdr ketahui tentang (maksimum1/4halaman masing2) a. ISO b. Global warming c. Natural Step d. NIMBY e. Green house effect f. Synhetic plasticrubber.

Thank You