Chemical and Sustainable Processes Engineering

The Master of Science in Chemical and Sustainable Processes Engineering has as its main objective the training of engineers who are able to produce and manage technologic innovation in the process industry (especially in the chemical, pharmaceutical, environmental, biotechnology, food and new material sectors) through the development of sustainable physico-chemical processes or with the reduction or elimination of the use and generation of hazardous substances, by preventing the originating chemical hazards and environmental pollution.

The training has the specific objective of enabling the MSc chemical engineer to carry out the following activities:

1. Apply theories and scientific methods to mathematically model and numerically simulate complex physico-chemical systems, where transformations of matter or energy take place, using both a macroscopic and molecular approach, also with the use of commercial codes of computational fluid dynamics, process simulation and molecular dynamics.
2. Employ the methodological, technology and engineering knowledge to identify, formulate and solve complex problems in the processing industry, using an interdisciplinary approach.
3. Plan and conduct the execution of complex experiments to validate theories and/or mathematical models of physico-chemical processes, equipment or systems of the processing industry.
4. Design or select single processing equipment especially in the realm of ​separation processes and of chemical reactors.
5. Develop and optimize innovative industrial processes that have to be sustainable in terms of environmental impact and safety.
6. Define and shape the control systems of chemical-physical complex processes.
7. Analyse existing physical-chemical processes with the aim of defining the necessary changes to increase profitability and/or sustainability.
8. Perform risk analysis and manage security and environmental protection of the equipment and systems in the processing industry.
9. Manage the operation and maintenance of complex systems in the processing industry.

MSc graduates will find employment opportunities in managing positions in the chemical, petrochemical, food, pharmaceutical and cosmetics, production and processing of materials sectors; and also in industrial laboratories; or in technical departments of public administration.
The following career opportunities tend to be grouped into the mentioned domains:

1. in engineering companies engaged in design, supervision and construction of industrial production plants;
2. in public and private research centres as employee and/or research and development coordinator;
3. in companies involved in the industrial processing of matter (so called chemical industry, petroleum and petrochemical, metallurgical, pharmaceutical, food, etc.) for the supervision of production plants. In the same companies the engineer may also be called to manage their environmental and security issues;
4. in service companies and public administration as a technical coordinator
5. in the consulting and expert advice activities to companies and groups that do not internally have the specific skills.
6. in companies that produce, process and develop materials applicable in various industrial fields such as the chemical, mechanical, electrical, electronics, telecommunications, energy, construction, transport, biomedical and preservation of cultural heritage.