Introduction to Chemical Engineering

Study Notes

AIChE defines Chemical Engineering as a profession that uses knowledge from mathematics, chemistry, and other natural sciences to create economical ways to use materials and energy for the benefit of mankind.
American Heritage Dictionary defines Chemical Engineering as a branch of engineering that focuses on the technology of large-scale chemical production and the manufacture of products through chemical processes.
Columbia Encyclopedia defines Chemical Engineering as the field of engineering that involves designing, constructing, and operating plants and machinery for large-scale production of materials like acids, dyes, drugs, plastics, and synthetic rubber. Chemical engineers must be skilled in both chemistry and mechanical engineering.

Before the 1880s, Chemical engineering was a mixture of disciplines:
- Mechanical engineering with some knowledge of chemical process equipment
- Applied chemistry with knowledge of large-scale industrial chemical reactions
- Chemical plant foremen with extensive experience but limited formal education
The Industrial Revolution (18th to 19th Century) saw the rise of industrial chemicals like:
- Sodium carbonate (soda ash), historically sourced from wood ashes, leading to deforestation.
- Sulfuric acid (oil of vitriol).
Nicholas Leblanc patented a method in 1791 for producing sodium carbonate (Na2CO3) from sea brine, NaCl (Leblanc Process). This process had significant disadvantages, including:
- Toxic HCl release into the atmosphere
- CaS waste producing H2S
The Alkali Act was the first modern air pollution legislation, introduced in 1863.
Ernest Solvay devised a new method for producing sodium carbonate in 1863, known as the Solvay Process.

George Davis is considered “The Father of Chemical Engineering”.
- In 1887, he organized 12 lectures at the Manchester Technical School on Chemical Engineering.
- In 1880, he founded the “Society of Chemical Engineers”, which was initially rejected.
Arthur D. Little coined the term “unit operations” to differentiate Chemical Engineering from other disciplines.
- He is considered the “American Father of Chemical Engineering”.
Lewis Mills Norton, a Chemistry Professor at MIT, established the first 4-year bachelor’s program in chemical engineering (called "Course X").
- Course X combined elements of mechanical engineering and industrial chemistry.
William Page Bryant was the first student to graduate from Course X in 1888, becoming the first formal chemical engineer.
Carl Bosch developed the “Haber-Bosch Process”, a groundbreaking industrial chemical process that:
- Enabled the economical mass synthesis of ammonia (NH3) from nitrogen (N2) and hydrogen (H2).
- Utilized extremely high pressures (200-400 atm) and high temperatures (400-650 °C).
- Solved the shortage of fixed nitrogen, replacing Chilean saltpeter as the primary source of nitrates.
Margaret Hutchinson Rousseau designed the first commercial penicillin plant.
- She was the first woman to earn a doctorate degree in Chemical Engineering.