In this blog post, we’ll take a closer look at the key topics covered in the Chemical and Biological Engineering major and explore the career paths available after graduation.
The Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering provides cutting-edge specialized knowledge necessary for developing practical technologies using core technologies from the chemical and biological engineering industries. In this program, students study both basic and applied sciences, which helps them develop problem-solving skills and foster creativity. Through this education, the department cultivates global leaders who will spearhead industries, research institutes, and academia. The Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering’s research areas are divided into three fields: industrial chemistry, chemical engineering, and biological engineering. The Industrial Chemistry field covers organic polymer materials, inorganic chemistry, and catalysts; the Chemical Engineering field focuses on chemical plant development and process development; and the Biotechnology field encompasses environmental engineering and bioengineering.
Within the Industrial Chemistry field, the area of organic polymer materials enables the creation of products that enrich our daily lives, such as monitors, cell phones, colorful lighting, and neon signs. Research in organic polymer materials also includes studies on biomaterials related to the pharmaceutical field and various nanomaterials. This research provides technologies that enable the rapid and cost-effective production of everyday essentials. Furthermore, organic polymer materials offer innovative solutions for a sustainable future and play a significant role in the development of eco-friendly materials.
Within the field of industrial chemistry, inorganic chemistry involves a great deal of research utilizing nanotechnology. Nanotechnology is a field that leverages the property whereby the characteristics of solid materials change significantly depending on their size, shape, and surface condition when reduced to sizes ranging from 1 to 100 nm, in order to control the physical, chemical, electrical, and magnetic properties of materials or to obtain new material properties. Based on research into the synthesis and fabrication of nanomaterials, the field of inorganic nanomaterials is pioneering a vast array of applications spanning the environmental, energy, biological, medical, electrical and electronic, and information technology industries. In particular, research on catalysts utilizing nanotechnology is expected to simultaneously address environmental and energy issues. Furthermore, the application of nanotechnology is expanding into the fields of space technology and aviation.
I will now explain chemical plants, the crown jewel of the chemical engineering field. A chemical plant is a large-scale facility composed of complex and diverse unit operations and processes, integrating elements from various process disciplines. The research conducted by process development teams includes tasks that have a significant impact on enhancing a company’s efficiency and profitability, such as efficiently configuring these processes and developing improved processes. Nearly all products essential to our daily lives are produced in chemical plants. Chemical plants play a pivotal role in various industrial sectors—including petrochemicals, food engineering, and pharmaceutical engineering—and their importance continues to grow.
Let’s explore fields that utilize both industrial chemistry and chemical engineering. Semiconductor technology is essential for enabling fast central processing units (CPUs) and high-capacity memory. While this technology is often thought of as the exclusive domain of electrical engineers, it is actually based on knowledge from industrial chemistry and chemical engineering. This is because the process of manufacturing semiconductor devices is a chemical engineering process. Semiconductor technology also plays a crucial role in the advancement of artificial intelligence (AI) and the Internet of Things (IoT), driving future innovations in smart technology.
Let’s also take a look at the field of biology. Environmental engineering is an effort by science and technology to find solutions to the adverse effects caused by science and technology itself. Environmental engineers are finding solutions through methods such as drinking water purification using membranes and advanced oxidation processes, industrial water treatment, industrial wastewater treatment and reuse through the development of new adsorbent carriers, the development of pollution-free clean production processes, and the development of pollutant treatment technologies using solar energy.
The importance of environmental engineering is being recognized not as an issue confined to a specific region or a single country, but as a critical shared challenge for the entire global community. The advancement of environmental engineering has become an essential task for ensuring a sustainable Earth.
Within the field of biology, there is also a new discipline known as bioengineering. The field of bioengineering encompasses the identification, analysis, and resolution of problems within the human body using natural science and engineering methods; the design of bioreactors and the development of bioprocesses; the production of useful substances through the cultivation of microbial, animal, and plant cells; the development of energy-related materials and alternatives to environmental pollutants using biological systems; biological environmental conservation technologies; biosensor and biomaterials engineering technologies; the development and application of biocatalysts; and technologies for the separation and purification of biological substances. Bioengineering is also making significant contributions to innovations in medical technology and is actively being researched in the fields of personalized medicine and regenerative medicine.
Chemical and Biological Engineering encompasses a wide range of disciplines, including physics, chemistry, biology, and mathematics, making it a challenging field to master—but one that is highly valued. We have introduced the diverse field of Chemical and Biological Engineering. The Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering is continuously striving to enable students to build specialized knowledge in various fields and, based on this foundation, contribute to society.
