Chemical Engineering began in the design and setting up of large scale production plants to transform naturally occuring raw materials into a variety of products that are readily useful to the mankind and society, such as petroleum products, synthetic fibres, paper, plastics, rubber, paints, oils, foods, and a whole range of chemicals consumed in various applications. The discipline which started several decades ago with a lot of empiricism has emerged today as one of the most versatile branches of engineering requiring the knowledge of fundamental sciences and computer technology. Its scope has widened considerably over the years and it now interfaces with diverse and emerging disciplines like environmental engineering, materials science and technology, biotechnology, microelectronics and biomedical engineering, while gaining a deeper understanding of its traditional fundamentals.
The Chemical Engineering Department at IIT Bombay has active research programmes in many of these areas, and has strong teaching programmes at both undergraduate and post-graduate levels. An extremely dynamic and large faculty (current strength of about 30), and a well experienced support staff, give the Department a breadth of research focus and wide range of technical expertise. In addition to the core fundamental areas of Chemical Engineering, the department has consolidated in recent years its team strengths in Computer Aided Design & Controls, Polymers & Materials, Petroleum and Petrochemical Technologies, and Food & Bio-process Engineering. Excellent research facilities, both experimental and computational, exist within the department.
The Department offers academic programmes at three levels leading to Bachelor of Technology (B.Tech.), Master of Technology (M.Tech.), and Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) degrees. A Dual Degree programme, leading to a B.Tech., and coupled with an M.Tech. with specialization in Process System Design & Engineering (total duration 5 years) has also been started by the department in the recent past and the first batch of students will graduate by 2001. In addition, continuing education programmes in specialized areas are offered on a regular basis for industry professionals and academic staff from other colleges.
The department has an active and close interaction with the Process Industry and many Research and Development Organizations. Services offered include consultancy, research and development projects, testing, and in-house training programmes.
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