In grade 12 economics class, I was assigned a project where I chose a product and researched its life cycle from raw materials to end of life.
I decided on gasoline. In researching the complex process to make this everyday fuel, I wondered; who was behind it all? After a deep dive into this question, I found it was chemical engineers. This project opened my eyes to the role petrochemicals play in producing not just our fuel, but our plastic products, skincare, and even clothing.
My interest in chemistry, math, and economics led me to pursue chemical engineering, a unique intersection of these topics. Fast forward to today, I am writing this blog as a third-year chemical engineering student at the University of Waterloo.
I used to think chemical engineers just worked in the oil and gas industry, but that is far from the truth. So, what do they do? I’ll start with some examples of items used in our everyday lives:
| Rubber | Yes, the stuff that makes up your car tires, boots, and gloves. Rubber is a fascinating material produced by compounding raw chemicals in specific proportions, mixing, shaping, and vulcanizing. Each step in this process design involves chemical engineers. |
| Plastic | From piping to credit cards, polyvinyl chloride (PVC) is a type of plastic that is everywhere. The chemical chlorine is a critical component of PVC. Turns out, there’s a whole industry dedicated to making it with chemical engineers involved every step of the way. |
| Water | Chemical engineers play a critical role in keeping our water clean. Many processes today produce byproducts that if not properly controlled, leach into the environment. Systems filtering out these contaminants are designed by chemical engineers. |
What do these seemingly unrelated things have in common? They’re all related to co-op jobs I’ve had as a chemical engineering student.
My favourite co-op experience thus far has been working for a startup company using pyrolysis technology to produce carbon black and hydrogen from natural gas. Carbon black is an essential component of any rubber product, and it can be produced in different grades. My role was determining the grade and quality of the carbon black produced by the reactor and working with the engineering team to adjust operating conditions of the system.
Now, back to gasoline.
Crude oil is a naturally occurring fossil fuel that is pumped from deep underground. It goes through a series of processes to separate its many components. One component is gasoline, which goes through additional refining carried out by chemical engineers to get ready for the pumps. The remaining heavier components are used in various other applications from jet fuel to asphalt.
Alberta and other provinces are home to numerous drilling and refining sites, making oil and gas production a strong contributor to Canada’s economy and a secure sector for chemical engineers.
But natural resources go far beyond oil and gas.
Canada relies on forestry, mining, and energy to keep this sector strong. Pulp and paper production comes from the forestry industry. Working in this sector involves producing paper products from notebook paper to cardboard.
Batteries in our devices and vehicles use minerals from the mining sector. This industry requires chemical engineers to ensure wastewater runoffs from mines meet environmental standards. If you are interested in any of these fields, check out this directory of Canada’s major projects on the horizon.
And we can’t forget about nuclear power! I believe the nuclear sector is one to be excited about right now, as Canada is making major advances. Chemical engineers play a critical role in this field as they design reactors, manage fuel processing, and optimize plant safety.
I’m certainly excited to see where this field goes, If you are too, check out the Darlington Nuclear Project, Canada’s first grid-scale small modular nuclear reactor.
If you want to use science to design processes that produce our materials, products, and energy, then chemical engineering may be the path for you.
For me, what started as an interest in where our gasoline comes from has turned into an appreciation for how chemical engineering is used to produce products all around us. In class, we learn theory in chemistry and math and get real-world exposure to these concepts during co-op work terms.
When choosing a chemical engineering program, I would highly recommend a co-op program as companies in the natural resources sector provide valuable professional development opportunities for students.
If you want to learn more about the opportunities in this sector, Young Canadians for Resources is a phenomenal resource. Join the mailing list and follow YCR on social media to stay informed about upcoming networking events, lunch and learns, and campus visits.
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