Chemical Engineering
The study of chemical plant operation and design, as well as ways to increase production, falls under the purview of chemical engineering, an engineering subfield. Chemical engineers devise practical and cost-effective methods for commercially processing raw materials into finished goods. To effectively utilize, produce, design, transport, and transform energy and materials, chemical engineers apply the principles of chemistry, physics, mathematics, biology, and economics. Chemical engineers are responsible for a wide variety of processes that transform chemicals, raw materials, living cells, microorganisms, and energy into proper forms and products; this can range from the laboratory use of nanotechnology and nanomaterials to massive industrial processes. Safety and hazard assessments, process design and analysis, modeling, control engineering, chemical reaction engineering, nuclear engineering, biological engineering, and construction specifications are just some of the areas that chemical engineers are involved in during the design and operation of a plant. Engineers in the field may be accredited members of a professional organization and possess relevant professional credentials. Groups like these include the IChemE (Institution of Chemical Engineers) and the AIChE (American Institute of Chemical Engineers) (AIChE).