Process and Chemical Technology

Building materials, jet fuel, metals, and plastics — all are products of process technology. Process technology involves every aspect of chemical processing: extracting and refining chemicals such as oil and natural gas, refining them, and carefully monitoring the process that makes it happen. Special instrumentation, pumps, turbines, and compressors are designed to monitor and separate the chemicals that make up countless products we use everyday.

Process technology spans many industries. Power plants depend on it to maximize output and minimize emissions. Waste- and water-treatment plants use it to monitor industrial waste, environmental impact, and human health and safety. In the pharmaceutical industry, it's even used to develop the coating on aspirin.

Chemical technology is a related but separate field that entails analyzing chemicals after they have been processed. Often done in a lab setting, chemical technology analyzes chemicals for purity of ingredients, and ensures that the products these ingredients go into maintain the proper chemical balance.

Additional resources:
Center for the Advancement of Process Technology
http://www.captech.org
Technicians in process and chemical technology are likely to find themselves in job settings where safety and health depends on their precision, both in the workplace and after products reach the end user. Process technicians often work in power plants, oil fields and refineries, chemical plants, or water-treatment plants. Chemical process technicians might work in lab settings in pharmaceutical companies, refineries, and chemical plants.



Common Jobs:
- Process Technician
- Production Operator
- Chemical Plant Technician