Educational objectives
The program will provide the necessary supplements to the students technical-scientific and mathematical background, concerning the chemistry of novel processes for a sustainable society, the numerical methods for systems and complex phenomena modeling, the computational fluid dynamics, the advanced transport phenomena, the multiphase chemical reactors, the dispersed systems and the molecular modeling. The foundations of the transfer of energy, m... More...
The program will provide the necessary supplements to the students technical-scientific and mathematical background, concerning the chemistry of novel processes for a sustainable society, the numerical methods for systems and complex phenomena modeling, the computational fluid dynamics, the advanced transport phenomena, the multiphase chemical reactors, the dispersed systems and the molecular modeling. The foundations of the transfer of energy, matter and momentum in complex multiphase systems will be studied and applied to the design of separation equipment and multiphase chemical reactors. Particular attention will be devoted to studying the behaviour of finely dispersed systems such as emulsions and suspensions, the physics of turbulence and its applications in computational fluid dynamics to solve complex problems of industrial processing.
Subsequently there will be further study of process control, extending to multi-variable systems and introducing advanced control concepts. Students will develop the ability to analyse and design a P&ID (piping and instrumentation diagram), and to assess where advanced systems are needed to replace traditional ones. Finally, this knowledge will be applied in specific practice exercises.
The program also provides instruction in food industry processes, biotechnological products and processes, and special separation processes that apply in this area; or, to develop their design skills, students can learn criteria and engineering methodologies applicable to the development of sustainable chemical and physical processes and the “green chemistry”. The practical exercises regard the conception and development of innovative chemical-physical processes; working in groups, students can apply the methodologies they have acquired in design, development and process analysis to solve complex problems and carry out a complete plant design, which will then be discussed.
Some options allow students to increase their knowledge of chemical engineering in the narrowest sense, for example by acquiring additional skills in choosing materials or applying catalytic processes for environmental and energy purposes, or to diversify their formation by taking courses in other subjects from the University course offering.
Some teaching units, especially those involving projects in which students must work in teams under the guidance of a teacher or assistant, will be held wholly or partly in English. In most courses materials in English (texts, handouts or transparencies of lecture notes) will be supplied.
Career opportunities
The MSc degree programme in Chemical and Sustainable Process Engineering forms engineers who can produce and manage innovation in industrial processing technology (particularly in the chemical, pharmaceutical, environmental, biotechnological, food, and new materials sectors); this entails the development of sustainable chemical and physical processes, and reduction or elimination of the use and generation of dangerous substances to prevent chemic... More...
The specific objectives of the programme are to train chemical engineers who can:
- apply theories and scientific methods for mathematical modeling and numerical simulation of complex chemical-physical systems involving changes in matter or energy, using macroscopic and molecular approaches;
- use methodological, technological and engineering knowledge to identify, formulate and solve complex problems of industrial processing using an interdisciplinary approach;
- plan and direct complex experiments to validate theories and/or mathematical models of chemical and physical processes, equipment or plant in the processing industry;
- design or select individual processing equipment, particularly for separation processes and chemical reactors;
- develop and optimise innovative industrial processes which will be sustainable in terms of environmental impact and safety;
- define and model control systems for complex physical-chemical processes;
- analyse existing chemical-physical processes to determine changes needed to increase profitability and/or sustainability;
- perform risk analysis and manage safety and environmental protection related to equipment and plant in the processing industry;
- manage the operation and maintenance of complex industrial processing plants.
Graduates will find employment opportunities in positions of responsibility within the chemical, petrochemical, food, pharmaceutical and cosmetic sectors, in materials production and processing, industrial laboratories, and technical departments of public administrations.
This includes the following career opportunities:
- in engineering firms, as specialists in the design, supervision, and construction of industrial production plant;
- in public and private research centres, as specialists and/or coordinators of research and development;
- in companies in the material processing sector (chemical, oil and petrochemical, metallurgical, pharmaceutical, food, etc.), overseeing production plants. They may also be called upon to manage corporate environmental and security issues;
- in service firms and public administration, as technical coordinators;
- in free-lance professional practice and consulting for companies and groups that lack internal expertise;
- in companies that produce, process and develop materials with applications in the chemical, mechanical, electrical, electronics, telecommunications, energy, construction, and transport industries, biomedicine, and conservation of the cultural heritage.
| The Study program qualifies the following professional profile/s: | Roles and skills: |
| Process Engineer | JOB ROLES:
The graduate in Chemical and Sustainable Processes Engineering has the cognitive tools and the methodological background for the overall assessment of the development of any industrial process, for the development of equipment and industrial facilities, and can operate in firms, companies or public and private institutions, where he: - cooperates in the final design of parts, machines and plants for the manufacturing industry; - cooperates in the set-up and management of the control system of industrial plants, thus optimizing productivity, quality and safety; - employs simulation methods, defines protocols and follows production operations; - contributes to the organization of the process and industrial product quality control, and cooperates in the marketing of the product. He also has the skills to manage, control and optimize equipment and processes, and to technically manage safety and environmental protection roles. Exploiting these characteristics, the chemical engineer: - manages industrial plants for chemical production, pharmaceutical and food industry, and for the production, distribution and use of energy - directs plants for environmental clean-ups, treatment of contaminated rivers, waste treatment, water purification and reclaim of polluted soils. SKILLS RELATED TO THE ROLE: In this industrial context the scientific foundations characterizing chemical engineering will be used the most, combined with those supplied in the MSc degree - analysis and development of sustainable chemical processes, control of chemical processes, safety and reliability, methods and procedures to be applied in the direction of industrial process plants. Other characteristic skills and competencies will also be used: for example, those regarding the evaluation of process and chemical industrial plant safety, and those relating to product quality. CAREER OPPORTUNITIES Production companies in the areas of processing and in other different economic sectors, such as the mechanical, automotive, aerospace, electronic ware, biomedical, etc. Consulting firms in the areas of quality, safety and environment. Public and private organizations. |
| Equipment Designer | JOB ROLES:
The graduate in Chemical and Sustainable Process Engineering, has the cognitive tools and methodological background to design operating units and basic equipment for the chemical and process industries, and can therefore - cooperate in the definition of production and processing processes and the design of systems for the processing industry and for the production of energy. - perform the modelling and design of networks for the transport of fluids, heat exchangers, reactors, concentrators, separators and in general equipment for the processing industry. - cooperate in the collection and analysis of data for the safety of the processes and the plants that process raw materials He also has the skills to manage, control and optimize equipment and processes, and to technically manage safety and environmental protection roles. SKILLS RELATED TO THE ROLE: The basic skills allow a full adaptability to this role and its fields of application. The graduate will therefore exploit the MSc's advanced engineering knowledge - numerical methods for solving engineering problems, structural mechanics and thermal machines - and the more specific knowledge in chemical engineering - analysis and development of sustainable chemical processes, control of chemical processes, safety and reliability, methods and procedures to be applied for the operation of process industry plants. The graduate will also be an expert user of different design and simulation software. CAREER OPPORTUNITIES: Companies producing goods or services, in the processing industries (chemical, petrochemical, food) and in different economic sectors, such as energy production, agriculture, etc. Technical design studios. Public and private organizations. |
| QHSE Engineer - (Quality, Health, Safety, Environment) | JOB ROLES:
Given the broad preparation, the MSc chemical engineer is able to manage: quality issues of a product, work place health and safety, safety in companies with major incident risk and environmental protection. SKILLS RELATED TO THE ROLE: The QHSE engineer's skills require the use all the skills acquired during the MSc's program - the advanced engineering ones that allow the analysis of the state of processes and systems - numerical methods for solving engineering problems, structural mechanics and thermal machines - and those specific to chemical engineering - analysis and the development of sustainable chemical processes, control of chemical processes, safety and reliability, methods and procedures to be applied for the operation of plants in the process industry. CAREER OPPORTUNITIES Manufacturing companies in all industries. Engineering and consulting firms. |
| Laboratory Manager | JOB ROLES:
Graduates in chemical engineering can work in R&D or industrial laboratories, where they contribute to and supervise their management and organization, by using their innovation capacity, by dealing with the division of roles within the technical staff team, with the selection and purchase of reagents and laboratory equipment, with the management of the project archive, and with the equipment maintenance. SKILLS RELATED TO THE ROLE: The skills of the lab manager are related to all the stages of design, prototyping and small batch production of a product / process. In particular the engineer in this role has knowledge of the product design and production technologies; he is able to select the raw materials and the processes to be employed with the best cost-performance trade-off; he knows how to expertly use lab instrumentation and simulation software; he has the process control expertise to prepare and manage laboratory equipment and production. CAREER OPPORTUNITIES Research and development labs, test facilities, measurement and characterization of systems and devices, in public and private companies and research institutes. |
| Expert Sales Engineer | JOB ROLES:
The chemical engineer who covers technical sales roles assists clients in all stages, from the definition of sales specifications to after-sales services, related to processing and transformation chemicals, and also to equipment, plants or services. He is able to organize and to make presentations and demonstrations of systems and equipment, in trade fairs or to customers directly on site. SKILLS RELATED TO THE ROLE: The relationship with the client, be it an individual, a company or institution, who buys both goods and services, especially if high in added value, requires specific technical skills, as well as communication skills and the ability to manage sales processes. The chemical engineer in charge of the sales process has a firm grasp of the basic technologies of the plants and equipment, of the product properties and of the related aspects of reliability, maintenance, performance, and energy consumption; and of course also has good communication skills. He will therefore be exploiting both the knowledge in advanced engineering - structural mechanics and thermal machines - and in chemical engineering - analysis and development of sustainable chemical processes, control of chemical processes, safety and reliability. CAREER OPPORTUNITIES Production companies in the areas of processing and in other different economic sectors, technical design companies, providers of services related to quality, environment and safety. |
| Professional consultant | JOB ROLES:
The MSc chemical engineer working as a freelance proposes solutions for the start-up of new activities and products that require the use of processing plants, both as production systems and as end products. The consultant engineer suggests the best technical and engineering solutions. He designs the required systems and manages one or more steps among: manufacturing, construction, commissioning, production, maintenance, and modification, while ensuring product quality and worker, plant and environmental safety. The freelance activity relies fundamentally on the ability to analyze the initial system and process status in order to identify possible shortcomings and propose innovative solutions, as well as the ability to analyze processed field data and the behaviour of the plant components (e.g. failure, adverse events). SKILLS RELATED TO THE ROLE: The consultant's skills include all those related to the phases of analysis, design, and control and management of a process/plant. The consultant will therefore exploit the MSc's advanced engineering knowledge - numerical methods for solving engineering problems, structural mechanics and thermal machines - and the more specific knowledge in chemical engineering - analysis and development of sustainable chemical processes, control of chemical processes, safety and reliability, methods and procedures to be applied for the operation of process industry plants. The graduate will also be an expert user of different design and simulation software. CAREER OPPORTUNITIES Consulting services for companies, government agencies, courthouses and other organizations. |
| Qualifications for further studies | Knowledge required to continue studies |
Expected learning outcomes
The scientific-disciplinary content grouped into the learning areas, defined by the "Dublin descriptors", is described below. The degree program is presented in four learning areas. The first is related to the basic scientific engineering (industrial) training; the second concerns the training that is typical of chemical engineering; the third concerns the specialization training characterized by a choice of two elective course examinations and t... More...
The scientific-disciplinary content grouped into the learning areas, defined by the "Dublin descriptors", is described below. The degree program is presented in four learning areas. The first is related to the basic scientific engineering (industrial) training; the second concerns the training that is typical of chemical engineering; the third concerns the specialization training characterized by a choice of two elective course examinations and three courses clustered into a single orientation (the orientations are two: biotechnology and process design); and, lastly, the fourth area, is linked to the preparation of the final thesis dissertation.
