Duties and Employment Requirements of Chemical Technicians, Technologists and Chemical Engineers

I. Chemical technicians provide technical support and services and only in some cases may work independently in chemical engineering, research and analysis. Chemical techniciansperform some or all of the following duties:

• Assist in setting up and conducting chemical experiments, tests and analyses

• Prepare solutions of gas and liquid, reagents and sample formulations

• Operate and maintain laboratory equipment and apparatus

• Compile records for analytical studies

• Assist in developing and conducting programs of sampling and analysis to maintain quality standards

• Carry out a limited range of other technical functions in support of chemical research, tests and analyses, and environmental air and water quality monitoring and protection

• Assist in the fabrication of experimental apparatus.

II. Chemical technologists are typically employed by research and development and quality control laboratories, consulting engineering companies, in chemical, petrochemical, pharmaceutical and a variety of other manufacturing and processing industries and by utilities, health, educational institutions and government establishments. All the specialists are to meet certain, sometimes specific employment requirements. They perform some or all of the following duties:

• Set up and conduct chemical experiments, tests and analyses using techniques such as chromatography, spectroscopy, physical and chemical separation techniques and microscopy

• Operate and control laboratory equipment and apparatus

• Compile records and interpret experimental or analytical results

• Develop and conduct programs of sampling and analysis to maintain quality standards of raw materials, chemical intermediates and products

• Assist in the development of chemical engineering processes, studies of chemicalengineering procurement, construction, inspection and maintenance and the development of standards, procedure and health and safety measures

• Operate experimental chemical or petrochemical pilot plants

• Conduct or assist in air and water quality testing and assessments, environmental monitoring and protection activities and development of and compliance with standards

• Assist in synthesis of small molecules for the purpose of creating drug candidates

• Assist in the design and fabrication of experimental apparatus

III. The job of a chemical engineer is your next step up on the employment ladder. It involves applying the principles of physics, chemistry and electrical engineering in the development of chemically based products such as plastics, gasoline and rubber. A bachelor`s degree in chemical engineering or in a related engineering discipline is required. If you aim at unimpeded career path, a master`s degree or doctorate in a related engineering discipline may be required.

A chemical engineer usually works in manufacturing, biotechnology or health care. Building on initial discoveries made by chemists, chemical engineers use computer models and other processes to test the efficacy of these products and to determine their safety for consumers and the environment. Your job duties as a chemical engineer would include researching new methods of manufacturing chemicals, creating the process by which gas or liquid components are separated, gathering estimates of the cost of production and designing and implementing safety procedures for employees working with potentially hazardous chemicals. Areas of specialization you could choose include nanomaterials and oxidation. Moreover, chemical engineers are employed in a wide range consulting firms, government, research and educational institutions. Chemical engineers perform some or all of the following duties:

· Conduct economic and technical feasibility studies in areas related to chemical, petroleum, pulp and paper, food or other processing industries

· Conduct research into the development or improvement of chemical engineering processes, reactions and materials

· Evaluate chemical process technology and equipment and determine production specifications

· Design and test chemical processing and associated plants and equipment

· Oversee the construction, modification, operation and maintenance of pilot plants, processing units or processing plants

· Establish and conduct quality control programs, operating procedures and control strategies to ensure consistency and adherence to standards for raw materials, products and waste products or emissions

· Prepare contract documents and evaluate tenders for the process aspects of industrial construction

· Supervise technicians, technologists and other engineers.

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