Features of the profession chemical engineer

A specialist with a higher professional education, who is called a chemical engineer, is related to work in the chemical industry - he is well aware of the structure and properties of various substances, knows the features of their interaction and processing, has the skills to preserve and dispose of them.

A professional with an education in organic or non-organic chemistry knows and knows how to work with various technologies, his work is associated with modifications of chemicals and the development of modern methods for their use to achieve specific goals.

The profession and professional standard of a chemical engineer implies research work, planning and implementation of certain chemical processes. In production, a chemical engineer performs the function of a technologist. He develops all the technical aspects of the production process and controls them at all stages of implementation. The result is high-quality products with specified characteristics and parameters. This may be the production of rubber products, the production of glass or porcelain, fertilizers for plants, products from plastic polymers and so on.

The modern chemical industry, thanks to the scientific research of professional chemists, is developing steadily. That is why preservatives and flavor enhancers have already been created in the food industry, fire extinguishing agents in electric networks, modern disinfection preparations and many other necessary means to ensure a person's comfortable life. In the Unified Qualification Manual (ECTS), the description of the profession of a chemical engineer implies the presence of two categories - 1 and 2. The difference between these categories is the presence of professional experience and competence of a specialist.

Labor as a chemical engineer implies a fairly wide and diverse range of responsibilities, but they depend on each specific production or research process. Therefore, the duties of a specialist may include various functions, their recruitment by an employee of a scientific laboratory will differ in comparison with the responsibilities of a person working in the manufacturing sector.

The main responsibilities of a chemical engineer include:

• the development of all stages of the technological stages of the chemical process;
• participation in the development of new products in terms of calculating the necessary materials, their quantity, as well as selecting the most optimal production methods;
• adjustment of working equipment to perform production processes;
• optimization of technological production processes to increase their efficiency;
• monitoring the quality of product production at all stages of production;
• performance of work on standardization and product compliance with GOSTs or TU (technical specifications).

The activity of a chemical engineer is associated not only with work in production or in the laboratory, this position involves attending scientific conferences and seminars, various exhibitions and presentations. A specialist of this level is especially appreciated if he constantly raises the level of his professional qualifications. Chemists are very much in demand in specialized research institutes involved in research, as well as in factory laboratories at industrial enterprises.

In the specialty of a chemical engineer, they are taught in specialized higher educational institutions. Modern universities can offer the specialty "Chemical technology", "Chemistry", "Chemical technology of materials of modern energy", "Oil and gas business" and other similar areas. Training is carried out in person, but distance learning is also possible. You can enter the university after the end of 11 classes, for this you need to take the following subjects at the exam: mathematics, the Russian language, chemistry, and also some universities require passing physics. Education as a chemical engineer can be obtained in higher educational institutions of Russia, specialized universities are in large numbers and in different cities of the country.

• Russian Institute of Chemical Technology Mendeleev D. I. - The educational institution is located in Moscow;
• St. Petersburg University of Chemical Technology;
• Yaroslavl State Technical University;
• South Ural State University;
• National Research Nizhny Novgorod State University Lobachevsky N.I .;
• Far Eastern Federal University;
• Kazan (Volga) State University;
• Russian State University of Oil and Gas named after Gubkina I. M .;
• Tyumen State University;
• St. Petersburg State University of Chemistry and Pharmacy;
• Academician Korolev S.P. Samara National Research University

You can become a professional chemical engineer by starting your way from training in a specialized college, enrolling there after graduating from grade 9. Graduates of these secondary schools receive the specialties of a chemist-technologist or chemist-laboratory assistant, which gives them advantages when entering a university, and also allows you to already start working in the chemical industry and, in parallel with work, get a correspondence higher education.

In the field of chemical technology there is a large number of multidirectional sections in which a chemical engineer is engaged in his work duties or does scientific research. This may be the direction of biochemistry, chemistry of hydrocarbons, agricultural chemistry, research programs and so on. A chemist in these areas can realize himself as an ecologist or laboratory assistant, and he can also head any production or scientific unit.

The activities of a chemical engineer are often associated with substances that can have a harmful effect on the human body or pose a different danger. Therefore, the specialty is subject legislative regulation of this professional activity. Employees of production facilities and laboratories are required to obey labor safety standards, and in some cases they have a duty not to divulge research results that constitute a commercial and even state secret.

The main areas of work of a chemical engineer are:

• the study of chemicals, their properties, applications, the implementation of physico-chemical studies and analysis of their results;
• creation of new products based on a variety of chemical compounds;
• conducting examinations and drawing up expert opinions based on them;
• the creation of new pharmacological products and preparations, the identification and study of substances with biological activity;
• chemical-technological control of production processes in the manufacture of intermediate raw materials and finished products;
• environmental work to protect the ecology and the environment, control over the disposal or storage of chemicals and their waste.

The demand for specialists with knowledge in the field of chemistry is quite high. This work is well paid, and the graduate can always find a job in his profile. The high demand for competent chemists is also high because this science is complex in itself and not everyone can master it. In order to professionally do your job, you must have fundamental knowledge and be well versed in this matter.

An experienced specialist earns well on average in Russia, the level of highly paid professionals can range from 60 to 80,000 rubles. A university graduate, as a novice specialist, can begin his work as an assistant, his initial earnings can be in the range of 25-30 000 rubles. How much a chemical engineer receives directly depends on his qualifications and experience. A specialist in the chemical industry may receive various types of allowances for unsafe working conditions, and wages may also depend on the level of the enterprise and its domestic policy.

Today, the profession of chemical engineer evolving and constantly improving. The chemical industry receives support from the state, competent specialists in it are always in demand. You can become a truly experienced specialist, having passed the path of formation from scratch, starting with the work of a laboratory assistant or apparatchik, and then becoming an engineer or head of a unit.