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¸£Àû±ÆÕ¾ Catalog 2023-2024

Chemical Engineering

This is an archived copy of the 2023-2024 catalog. To access the most recent version of the catalog, please visit .

Research activities in the department include: computational nanoscience and biology; biomolecular engineering and biotechnology; catalysis, combustion, kinetics and electrochemical engineering; biofuels and renewable energy technology; green chemistry and engineering; innovative textiles, polymers and colloids; nanoscience and nanoengineering; and thermodynamics and molecular simulation.

Admissions Requirements

Students admitted to the graduate program normally have a Bachelor's degree in chemical engineering or its equivalent. Students with undergraduate degrees in chemistry, physics or other engineering disciplines may be admitted but will be required to make up undergraduate course work deficiencies in chemical engineering without graduate credit. The most promising candidates will be accepted up to the number of spaces available.

Master of Science Degree Requirements

The M.S. degree requires a minimum of 30 credit hours. A set of four core courses is required. Two options are provided. In the thesis option, the thesis must be defended in a final public oral examination. In the non-thesis option, the student must satisfactorily complete a total of 10 graduate courses. A unique feature of the non-thesis option is the availability of a Distance Education Masters in which the students can complete all 30 credit hours remotely through online courses offered via streaming videos without being on campus.

Master of Chemical Engineering Degree Requirements

The M.Ch.E. degree requires a minimum of 30 credit hours. A set of four core courses is required. A three-credit project is also required.

Doctor of Philosophy Degree Requirements

Students normally take a set of five core courses, two advanced courses and at least 6 credits of dissertation research. A thesis is required; this must be defended in a final public oral examination. In addition, the candidate must: (1) submit and defend an original written proposition in any area of chemical engineering, and (2) submit and defend a proposal to perform his/her thesis research.

Faculty

Full Professors

  • Ruben G. Carbonell
  • Michael David Dickey
  • Peter S. Fedkiw
  • Jan Genzer
  • Christine S. Grant
  • Carol K. Hall
  • Jason M. Haugh
  • Hasan Jameel
  • Robert M. Kelly
  • Saad A. Khan
  • Fanxing Li
  • Gregory N Parsons
  • Walter James Pfaendtner
  • Behnam Pourdeyhimi
  • Balaji M. Rao
  • Sindee Lou Simon
  • Richard J. Spontak
  • Orlin Dimitrov Velev
  • Phillip R. Westmoreland

Associate Professors

  • Milad Abolhasani
  • Chien Ching Lilian Hsiao
  • Albert Jun Qi Keung
  • Stefano Menegatti
  • Adriana San Miguel Delgadillo
  • Erik Emilio Santiso
  • Qingshan Wei

Assistant Professors

  • Nathan Crook
  • Artem Rumyantsev
  • Wentao Tang

Practice/Research/Teaching Professors

  • Cristina Boi
  • Lisa G. Bullard
  • Matthew Ellis Cooper
  • Kirill Efimenko
  • Gary Louis Gilleskie
  • Hassan Golpour
  • Gregory McKenna
  • Luke Neal
  • John H. van Zanten

Adjunct Faculty

  • Anthony L. Andrady
  • Orlando J. Rojas

Emeritus Faculty

  • Joseph M. DeSimone
  • Richard M. Felder
  • Michael Carl Flickinger
  • Keith E. Gubbins
  • Harold B. Hopfenberg
  • Harold Henry Lamb
  • Phooi K. Lim
  • Steven W. Peretti
  • Hubert Winston

Courses

°ä±á·¡Ìý525ÌýÌýProcess System Analysis and ControlÌýÌý(3 credit hours)ÌýÌý

Dynamic analysis and continuous control of chemical engineering processes. Process modeling; stability analysis, design and selection of control schemes. Solution of differential equations using Laplace transform techniques. Credit for both CHE 425 and °ä±á·¡Ìý525 is not allowed.

Prerequisite: °ä±á·¡Ìý312

Typically offered in Spring only

°ä±á·¡Ìý543ÌýÌýPolymer Science and TechnologyÌýÌý(3 credit hours)ÌýÌý

Concepts and techniques for polymerization of macromolecules. Structure, properties, and applications of commercially important polymers.

Prerequisite: CHE 223, °ä±á·¡Ìý316

Typically offered in Fall and Summer

°ä±á·¡Ìý546ÌýÌýDesign and Analysis of Chemical ReactorsÌýÌý(3 credit hours)ÌýÌý

Characterization and measurement of rates of homogeneous and heterogeneous reactions. Design and analysis of chemical reactors. Credit for both °ä±á·¡Ìý446 and °ä±á·¡Ìý546 is not allowed.

Prerequisite: °ä±á·¡Ìý316

Typically offered in Fall only

°ä±á·¡Ìý548/°ä±á·¡Ìý448/µþ·¡°äÌý448/µþ·¡°äÌý548ÌýÌýBioreactor DesignÌýÌý(2 credit hours)ÌýÌý

This course will cover critical aspects of bioreactor design, including design of reactors for enzyme-catalyzed reactions, fermentation of microorganisms, and scale-up considerations for bioreactors. Hands-on experiments involving fermentation of microorganisms and scale-up of bioreactors will be included. Students cannot get credit for both °ä±á·¡Ìý448 and °ä±á·¡Ìý548.

Prerequisite °ä±á·¡Ìý446 or instructor permission; Co-requisite µþ°ä±áÌý451 or instructor permission

Typically offered in Spring only

°ä±á·¡Ìý551ÌýÌýBiochemical EngineeringÌýÌý(3 credit hours)ÌýÌý

Enzyme and microbial kinetics and reactor designs for processes involving enzymes and single and mixed cultures. Samples drawn from full range of applications: food processing, single cell proteins, tissue culture and vaccines, monoclonal antibodies, recombinant DNA and hybridomas, artificial organs, biological waste treatment and environmental processes.

Typically offered in Spring only

°ä±á·¡Ìý552/°ä±á·¡Ìý452ÌýÌýBiomolecular EngineeringÌýÌý(2 credit hours)ÌýÌý

This course will cover modern methods in biomolecule design, including gene expression regulators, RNA structure, protein structure, and metabolic networks. Current methods in genetic engineering and 'omics-based analysis will be discussed, followed by a critical review of current literature on the applications of these methods to engineering microbes, cells, and multi-species communities. Hands-on assignments involving computational design will be included.

Typically offered in Spring only

°ä±á·¡Ìý560/°ä±á·¡Ìý460ÌýÌýChemical Processing of Electronic MaterialsÌýÌý(3 credit hours)ÌýÌý

This course is an introduction to electronic materials, chemical processes used in their fabrication, and basic physical principles of electronic device operation and function. The course will address how principles of chemical engineering are applied to design and fabricate current and emerging electronic systems. We will also discuss emerging areas of electronic technologies, including organic semiconductors, advanced energy conversion, and quantum computing and related systems. Credit for both °ä±á·¡Ìý460 and °ä±á·¡Ìý560 is not allowed.

Prerequisite: °ä±á·¡Ìý446 or permission of instructor

Typically offered in Spring only

°ä±á·¡Ìý562/µþ·¡°äÌý462/µþ·¡°äÌý562/°ä±á·¡Ìý462ÌýÌýFundamentals of Bio-NanotechnologyÌýÌý(3 credit hours)ÌýÌý

Concepts of nanotechnology are applied in the synthesis, characterization, recognition and application of biomaterials on the nanoscale. Emphasis will be given to hands-on experience with nanostructured biomaterials; students will also be familiarized with the potential impact of these materials on different aspects of society and potential hazards associated with their preparation and application.

Typically offered in Spring only

°ä±á·¡Ìý563/µþ·¡°äÌý563/°ä±á·¡Ìý463/µþ·¡°äÌý463ÌýÌýFermentation of Recombinant MicroorganismsÌýÌý(2 credit hours)ÌýÌý

Students completing this course will be able to conduct small-scale fermentations of recombinant microorganisms as well as having an understanding of ways to approach optimization of such processes. One of the focus areas of this course is on protein production and factors that affect gene expression and recombinant protein yield.

Typically offered in Fall and Spring

°ä±á·¡Ìý568/·¡°ä·¡Ìý568/·¡°ä·¡Ìý468/°ä±á·¡Ìý468ÌýÌýConventional and Emerging Nanomanufacturing Techniques and Their Applications in NanosystemsÌýÌý(3 credit hours)ÌýÌý

Conventional and emerging nano-manufacturing techniques and their applications in the fabrication of various structures and devices. Review of techniques for patterning, deposition, and etching of thin films including emerging techniques such as an imprint and soft lithography and other unconventional techniques. Electronic and mechanical properties of 0 to 3-D nanostructures and their applications in nano-electronics, MEMS/NEMS devices, sensing, energy harvesting, storage, flexible electronics and nano-medicine. Credit for both ECE/°ä±á·¡Ìý468 and ECE/°ä±á·¡Ìý568 is not allowed.

Prerequisite: ·¡Ìý304

Typically offered in Fall only

°ä±á·¡Ìý575/°ä±á·¡Ìý475ÌýÌýAdvances in Pollution Prevention: Environmental Management for the FutureÌýÌý(3 credit hours)ÌýÌý

Design of industrial processes which minimize or eliminate wastes. Regulations and the corporate organization of current pollution prevention efforts. Current pollution prevention research. Product life cycle analysis and the application to design of more efficient processes.

Typically offered in Spring only

°ä±á·¡Ìý577/µþ·¡°äÌý577ÌýÌýAdvanced Biomanufacturing and BiocatalysisÌýÌý(3 credit hours)ÌýÌý

Overview of biomanufacturing using microorganisms (bacteria, yeast, fungi), eukaryotic cells (hybridomas, insect, plant, CHO) and recombinant enzymes focusing on methods used in industry. Course will emphasize process design for optimization of heterologous protein expression, metabolic/cell line engineering, metabolomics, protein engineering to alter enzymes and antibodies. Pathway engineering strategies include developing microbes to produce new therapeutic compounds or overproduce primary metabolites, antibiotics, biotherapeutics, therapeutic enzymes, diagnostics, recombinant vaccines, and biopharmaceuticals. Utilization of immobilized biocatalysts, and microbial kinetics are covered.

Graduate standing in engineering or life-science graduate program

Typically offered in Spring only

°ä±á·¡Ìý588/µþ·¡°äÌý488/°ä±á·¡Ìý488/µþ·¡°äÌý588ÌýÌýAnimal Cell Culture EngineeringÌýÌý(2 credit hours)ÌýÌý

Design and operation of animal cell culture bioreactors for therapeutic protein production. Topics include: batch, fed-batch and perfusion bioreactors, agitation and aeration for mixing and oxygen mass transfer, bioreactor monitoring and control, optimizing bioreactor performance, single-use [disposal] bioreactors, and the production of gene therapy vectors. This is a half-semester course. Time outside of the regularly scheduled class time may be required.

Prerequisite: µþ·¡°äÌý463 or °ä±á·¡Ìý563 or BEC 363 or BEC 440/540 or BEC 441/541 or equivalent; or consent of instructor.

Typically offered in Spring only

°ä±á·¡Ìý596ÌýÌýSpecial Topics in Chemical EngineeringÌýÌý(1-3 credit hours)ÌýÌý

Typically offered in Fall and Spring

°ä±á·¡Ìý597ÌýÌýChemical Engineering ProjectsÌýÌý(1-3 credit hours)ÌýÌý

Independent study of some phase of chemical engineering or related field.

Prerequisite: Graduate standing

Typically offered in Fall, Spring, and Summer

°ä±á·¡Ìý601ÌýÌýSeminarÌýÌý(1 credit hours)ÌýÌý

Weekly seminars on topics of current interest given by resident faculty members, graduate students and visiting lecturers.

Typically offered in Fall and Spring

°ä±á·¡Ìý610ÌýÌýSpecial TopicsÌýÌý(1-6 credit hours)ÌýÌý

Typically offered in Fall, Spring, and Summer

°ä±á·¡Ìý685ÌýÌýMaster's Supervised TeachingÌýÌý(1-3 credit hours)ÌýÌý

Teaching experience under the mentorship of faculty who assist the student in planning for the teaching assignment, observe and provide feedback to the student during the teaching assignment, and evaluate the student upon completion of the assignment.

Prerequisite: Master's student

Typically offered in Fall only

°ä±á·¡Ìý689ÌýÌýNon-Thesis Master Continuous Registration - Full Time RegistrationÌýÌý(3 credit hours)ÌýÌý

For students in non-thesis master's programs who have completed all credit hour requirements for their degree but need to maintain full-time continuous registration to complete incomplete grades, projects, final master's exam, etc. Students may register for this course a maximum of one semester.

Prerequisite: Master's student

Typically offered in Fall and Spring

°ä±á·¡Ìý690ÌýÌýMaster's ExaminationÌýÌý(1-9 credit hours)ÌýÌý

For students in non-thesis master's programs who have completed all other requirements of the degree except preparing for and taking the final master's exam.

Prerequisite: Master's student

Typically offered in Fall only

°ä±á·¡Ìý693ÌýÌýMaster's Supervised ResearchÌýÌý(1-9 credit hours)ÌýÌý

Instruction in research and research under the mentorship of a member of the Graduate Faculty.

Prerequisite: Master's student

Typically offered in Spring and Summer

°ä±á·¡Ìý695ÌýÌýMaster's Thesis ResearchÌýÌý(1-9 credit hours)ÌýÌý

Thesis research.

Prerequisite: Master's student

Typically offered in Fall, Spring, and Summer

°ä±á·¡Ìý696ÌýÌýSummer Thesis ResearchÌýÌý(1 credit hours)ÌýÌý

For graduate students whose programs of work specify no formal course work during a summer session and who will be devoting full time to thesis research.

Prerequisite: Master's student

Typically offered in Summer only

°ä±á·¡Ìý697ÌýÌýAdvanced Chemical Engineering ProjectsÌýÌý(1-12 credit hours)ÌýÌý

Independent study of some phase of chemical engineering or related field.

Prerequisite: Graduate standing in CHE

Typically offered in Summer only

°ä±á·¡Ìý699ÌýÌýMaster's Thesis PreparationÌýÌý(1-9 credit hours)ÌýÌý

For students who have completed all credit hour requirements and full-time enrollment for the master's degree and are writing and defending their thesis.

Prerequisite: Master's student

Typically offered in Summer only

°ä±á·¡Ìý701ÌýÌýIntroduction to Chemical Engineering ResearchÌýÌý(2 credit hours)ÌýÌý

Introduction to graduate research guidelines and practices. Topics include research ethics, electronic literature searching, research proposal structure, technical writing styles, research problem identification, advisor expectations, intellectual property and patents, laboratory notebooks, proposal creation and oral presentation. Graduate standing in chemical engineering or permission of instructor.

Typically offered in Fall only

°ä±á·¡Ìý702ÌýÌýChemical Engineering Research PropositionÌýÌý(2 credit hours)ÌýÌý

Preparation of a professional quality chemical engineering research proposal. Includes selecting a novel research topic, drafting and finalizing the proposal according to NSF formats, and orally presenting and defending the proposal to a faculty advisory committee. Ethics in proposal preparation.

Prerequisite: °ä±á·¡Ìý701

Typically offered in Spring only

°ä±á·¡Ìý711ÌýÌýChemical Engineering Process ModelingÌýÌý(3 credit hours)ÌýÌý

Applications of methods of mathematical analysis to formulation and solution of problems in transport phenomena, process dynamics and chemical reaction engineering.

Prerequisite: (°ä±á·¡Ìý312, MA 301 or ²Ñ´¡Ìý341) or equivalent

Typically offered in Fall only

°ä±á·¡Ìý713ÌýÌýThermodynamics IÌýÌý(3 credit hours)ÌýÌý

In-depth coverage of chemical engineering thermodynamics principles. Application of non-ideal fluid-phase chemical potentials to problems in phase and chemical reaction equilibria. Relations of molecular structure and intermolecular forces to macroscopic thermodynamic properties.

Prerequisite: °ä±á·¡Ìý316 or equivalent

Typically offered in Fall only

°ä±á·¡Ìý715ÌýÌýTransport PhenomenaÌýÌý(3 credit hours)ÌýÌý

A theoretical unified study of transport of momentum, energy and matter. Introduction to diffusional operations including coupled heat and mass transfer in light of the theory.

Prerequisite: °ä±á·¡Ìý311 or equivalent

Typically offered in Spring and Summer

°ä±á·¡Ìý717ÌýÌýChemical Reaction EngineeringÌýÌý(3 credit hours)ÌýÌý

Rates and mechanisms of homogeneous and heterogeneous reactions. Design, analysis and scale-up of batch and continuous chemical reactors.

Prerequisite: °ä±á·¡Ìý446 or °ä±á·¡Ìý447 or equivalent

Typically offered in Fall only

°ä±á·¡Ìý718ÌýÌýAdvanced Chemical Reaction EngineeringÌýÌý(3 credit hours)ÌýÌý

Topics relating to design, analysis and operation of homogeneous and heterogeneous chemical reactors.

Prerequisite: °ä±á·¡Ìý717

°ä±á·¡Ìý719ÌýÌýElectrochemical Systems AnalysisÌýÌý(3 credit hours)ÌýÌý

Electrochemical thermodynamics, electrochemical kinetics and catalysis, coupled charge and material transport in an electric field and electrophoretic effects. Design and analysis of electrochemical reactors. Survey of electrochemical industry.

Prerequisite: °ä±á·¡Ìý715, 717

Typically offered in Spring only

°ä±á·¡Ìý752ÌýÌýSeparation Processes For Biological MaterialsÌýÌý(3 credit hours)ÌýÌý

Definition and engineering analysis of major bioseparation techniques useful in product isolation and purification. Solid-liquid separation, crystallization, filtration, extraction, chromatography, membrane processes, distillation, drying, combined operations and process economics.

Prerequisite: CHE 721 or °ä±á·¡Ìý551

°ä±á·¡Ìý761/²Ñ³§·¡Ìý761ÌýÌýPolymer Blends and AlloysÌýÌý(3 credit hours)ÌýÌý

Thermodynamics, morphological characteristics and properties of multiphase polymer systems composed of homopolymers or copolymers. Interfacial characteristics and modification of multicomponent polymer blends through emulsification and reactive blending. Microphase ordering in block copolymers, and emerging technolgies employing these nanostructured materials. Conformational properties and dynamics of macromolecules constrained near an interface.

Prerequisite: °ä±á·¡Ìý316 or MAT 301

Typically offered in Fall only

°ä±á·¡Ìý775ÌýÌýMulti-Scale Modeling of MatterÌýÌý(3 credit hours)ÌýÌý

Current methods for modeling liquids, soft matter (polymers, surfactant solutions, colloids, liquid crystals, etc), nano-structured materials (nanoparticles, nano-composites, nano-porous materials, etc.), biomolecular systems, and reacting systems at the electronic, atomistic, meso-scale and continuum levels. Graduate level thermodynamics and differential and integral calculus required.

Prerequisite: Graduate level thermodynamics, and differential and integral calculus

Typically offered in Spring only

°ä±á·¡Ìý796ÌýÌýSpecial Topics In Chemical EngineeringÌýÌý(1-6 credit hours)ÌýÌý

Directed reading of chemical engineering literature, introduction to research methodology, and lectures and seminar discussion on topics which vary from term to term.

Prerequisite: Graduate standing

Typically offered in Fall and Spring

°ä±á·¡Ìý797ÌýÌýChemical Engineering ProjectsÌýÌý(1-3 credit hours)ÌýÌý

Independent study of some phase of chemical engineering or related field.

Prerequisite: Graduate standing

Typically offered in Fall only

°ä±á·¡Ìý798ÌýÌýAdvanced Chemical Engineering ProjectsÌýÌý(1-3 credit hours)ÌýÌý

Independent study of some phase of chemical engineering or related field.

Prerequisite: Graduate standing in CHE

Typically offered in Fall, Spring, and Summer

°ä±á·¡Ìý801ÌýÌýSeminarÌýÌý(1 credit hours)ÌýÌý

Weekly seminars on topics of current interest given by resident faculty members, graduate students and visiting lecturers.

Typically offered in Fall and Spring

°ä±á·¡Ìý810ÌýÌýSpecial TopicsÌýÌý(1-6 credit hours)ÌýÌý

Typically offered in Fall, Spring, and Summer

°ä±á·¡Ìý885ÌýÌýDoctoral Supervised TeachingÌýÌý(1-3 credit hours)ÌýÌý

Teaching experience under the mentorship of faculty who assist the student in planning for the teaching assignment, observe and provide feedback to the student during the teaching assignment, and evaluate the student upon completion of the assignment.

Prerequisite: Doctoral student

Typically offered in Fall only

°ä±á·¡Ìý890ÌýÌýDoctoral Preliminary ExaminationÌýÌý(1-9 credit hours)ÌýÌý

For students who are preparing for and taking written and/or oral preliminary exams.

Prerequisite: Doctoral student

Typically offered in Spring only

°ä±á·¡Ìý893ÌýÌýDoctoral Supervised ResearchÌýÌý(1-9 credit hours)ÌýÌý

Instruction in research and research under the mentorship of a member of the Graduate Faculty.

Prerequisite: Doctoral student

Typically offered in Fall and Spring

°ä±á·¡Ìý895ÌýÌýDoctoral Dissertation ResearchÌýÌý(1-9 credit hours)ÌýÌý

Dissertation research.

Prerequisite: Doctoral student

Typically offered in Fall, Spring, and Summer

°ä±á·¡Ìý896ÌýÌýSummer Dissertation ResearchÌýÌý(1 credit hours)ÌýÌý

For graduate students whose programs of work specify no formal course work during a summer session and who will be devoting full time to thesis research.

Prerequisite: Doctoral student

Typically offered in Summer only

°ä±á·¡Ìý899ÌýÌýDoctoral Dissertation PreparationÌýÌý(1-9 credit hours)ÌýÌý

For students who have completed all credit hour, full-time enrollment, preliminary examination, and residency requirements for the doctoral degree, and are writing and defending their dissertations.

Prerequisite: Doctoral student

Typically offered in Fall, Spring, and Summer