Introduction to Chemical Engineering

Overview of Lecture
Engineering 1: Chemical Engineering

What is an engineer? 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?
Engineering 1: Chemical Engineering

Engineers can do for 1p what a scientist can do for 1 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

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?
Engineering 1: Chemical Engineering

Prehistory:
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

Introduction to Chemical Engineering

What is chemical engineering
Engineering 1: Chemical Engineering

Definition found in a standard dictionary:

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

Introduction to Chemical Engineering

What is chemical engineering
Engineering 1: Chemical Engineering

Selenium (Se) tablets 100 g 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

(chemical, paint, drugs, silicon chips, )

Product Engineer
Process Engineer
(to make product)

Biology

Mathematics Management Economics

Physics

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Mark J. Biggs, 2005

Introduction to Chemical Engineering

Chemical engineers are everywhere
Engineering 1: Chemical Engineering

Oil industry 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

Introduction to Chemical Engineering

Modern view of chemical engineering
Engineering 1: Chemical Engineering

Small scale processes (protein quantification via microfluidics)

What chemical engineering is involved?

Molecules (proteins + solvent) Reaction Flow Interfacial phenomena Unit operations in miniature!

John B Fenn Nobel Laureate

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Mark J. Biggs, 2005

Introduction to Chemical Engineering

Modern view of chemical engineering
Engineering 1: Chemical Engineering

Interface with life sciences

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.
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Mark J. Biggs, 2005

Introduction to Chemical Engineering

The future of chemical engineering
Engineering 1: Chemical Engineering

Smart molecules, nanostructures, nanofactories,

(a) Me H O O

Chromophore

0 1 2 Energy (103 cm1)

(b)

Excited state

120
Ground state

0 1 2 3 4 5 180 0.4 0.0

0.4

O H O coordinate ()

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Mark J. Biggs, 2005

Introduction to Chemical Engineering

The future of chemical engineering
Engineering 1: Chemical Engineering

Exploration & exploitation of extra-terrestrial environments

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 Atmosphere

Compressor and separator

CO2 reduction Electrolysis H2 recycle

H2O O2

Ar/N2

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Mark J. Biggs, 2005

Introduction to Chemical Engineering

Summary
Engineering 1: Chemical Engineering

Chemical engineering is about producing required products in 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
Engineering 1: Chemical Engineering

History of chemical engineering and what it is (in part): 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 UK: IChemE (www.icheme.org), SCI (www.soci.org) US: AIChE (www.aiche.org) Chemical Engineering News (www.pubs.acs.org/cen). Progress in Chemical Engineering (www.cepmagazine.org).

Chemical Engineering societies:

Some industry publications

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Mark J. Biggs, 2005