Chemical Product Design

The chemical industry is increasingly devoted to the manufacture of specialty, high-value chemical products such as pharmaceuticals. However, the training of chemical engineers has remained static, emphasizing traditional commodities. This ground-breaking text reflects the new market needs. It expands the scope of chemical engineering design to encompass both process design and product design.

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Until recently, the chemical industry has been dominated by the manufacture of bulk commodity chemicals such as benzene, ammonia, and polypropylene. However, over the last decade a significant shift occurred. Now most chemical companies devote any new resources to the design and manufacture of specialty, high value-added chemical products such as pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, and electronic coatings. Although the jobs held by chemical engineers have also changed to reflect this altered business, their training has remained static, emphasizing traditional commodities. This ground-breaking text starts to redress the balance between commodities and higher value-added products. It expands the scope of chemical engineering design to encompass both process design and product design. The authors use a four-step procedure for chemical product design - needs, ideas, selection, manufacture - drawing numerous examples from industry to illustrate the discussion. The book concludes with a brief review of the economic issues. Chemical engineering students and beginning chemical engineers will find this text an inviting introduction to chemical product design.