What does a chemical engineer do?

I'm thinking about studying chemical engineering in college but not entirely sure what chemical engineers actually do. Can someone explain their main tasks and work environment? Also, what industries do they typically work in?

Chemical engineers are often involved in designing processes and equipment for large-scale manufacturing. They plan and test methods of producing products and treating byproducts, and supervise production. They also work on issues related to production, such as safety, environmental protection, and cost effectiveness.

In essence, chemical engineers transform raw materials into practical, useful products that are central to our everyday life, such as pharmaceuticals, plastics, and fuels. They work at the molecular level all the way up to full industrial scale production.

Chemical engineers operate in a variety of work environments, depending on the industry and specific role. This can range from offices and laboratories to industrial plants, refineries, and oil and gas production facilities. They often collaborate with other engineers and work alongside scientists and technicians.

A wide array of industries employ chemical engineers, including but not limited to: pharmaceuticals, food and beverage, energy, petrochemicals, consumer goods, environmental health and safety, and materials (like semiconductors). Some chemical engineers even work in healthcare, designing systems to deliver drugs to tumors or specific genes in the human body.

Finally, keep in mind chemical engineering is a broad field and some engineers may specialize in a specific process such as oxidation, or in a particular field, like nanomaterials or biological engineering. The diversity of tasks and industries means there's lots of potential for specialization or breadth, depending on your interest!