Lecture # 1
Introduction to Chemical
Engineering
What is Chemical Engineering ?
• Synthesis of chemistry and engineering.
• A chemical engineer carries out on a large
scale reactions developed by a chemist in
the laboratory.
• A chemical engineer talks engineering in
the presence of chemists, chemistry in the
presence of engineers, and politics in the
presence of both !
What does a chemical engineer do ?
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Research.
Process development.
Process design and evaluation.
Plant design and construction.
Production supervision and trouble shooting.
Technical service.
Product sales, finance, purchasing.
General management
Examples of Chemical process Industries
• Inorganic chemicals : fertilizers, paints, pigments,
soap, household chemicals,..etc.
• Organic chemicals: Plastics, solvents,..etc.
• Petroleum and petrochemicals: Fuels, gasoline,
motor oil, lubricants, asphalt,..etc.
• Pulp and Paper: Books, newspaper, building
material,..etc.
• Metals: Machinery, cars, building material,..etc
• Biochemicals: Health and medical applications,
human sustenance,..etc
Chemical Processes foundation subjects
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Mass and energy balances.
Thermodynamics and kinetics.
Unit operations and chemical reactors.
Instrumentation and control.
Economics.
Keys to success in your job
• Professional excellence
• Communications
• Human relations