School of Engineering

Chemical Engineering

Graduate Study

Courses

Courses for Graduate Students in the Chemical Engineering Program
Ph.D. candidates must pass both written and oral qualifying examinations taken after the first semester of graduate study. The written exam covers the areas of thermodynamics, transport phenomena, and kinetics (CHEG 5301, 5315 and 5321 are normal preparation for this exam). The oral exam involves the critique and discussion of a paper from the literature assigned to the student after passing the written exam. The doctoral plan of study developed jointly by the student and his/her advisory committee usually includes one year of full-time course work beyond the master's degree.

Doctoral students also must fulfill a foreign language requirement of the Graduate School (which may be satisfied by courses in a related or supporting area such as math or computer science). In addition to the qualifying exams, the student must complete a General Examination and the writing of a Ph.D. dissertation proposal, which is defended orally. The Ph.D. dissertation must contain the results of original research in chemical engineering. An oral defense of the dissertation is required.

There are three required courses for the PhD:

CHEG 5301. Chemical Engineering Thermodynamics I (3 credits) Lecture.
An advanced study of classical thermodynamics with emphasis on phase and chemical equilibria and applications to the chemical process industries. Kinetic theory and statistical thermodynamics with emphasis on the prediction and correlation of physical and chemical properties of gases and liquids, including mixtures. Theory and application of flames, plasmas, and shock waves.

CHEG 5315. Transfer Operations I (3 credits) Lecture.
An advanced study of momentum, heat and mass transfer with application to complex problems. Cartesian tensors, non-Newtonian flow, statistical theory of turbulence. Mass transfer in multicomponent systems and with chemical reaction. Mass transfer in drops and bubbles; two-phase flow and fluidization.

CHEG 5321. Reaction Kinetics I (3 credits) Lecture.
Chemical kinetics and reactor design. An advanced study of chemical reaction engineering with emphasis on catalysis. Applications to stirred-tanks, fixed-bed, and fluidized bed reactors.

Other courses students may choose from include
Note: Courses designated by the asterisk symbol (*) are approved for Satisfactory (S) / Unsatisfactory (U) grading.

CHEG 5399. Independent Study (1-3 credits) Independent Study
Independent study under the supervision of a Chemical Engineering faculty member.

CHEG 5301. Chemical Engineering Thermodynamics I (3 credits) Lecture.
An advanced study of classical thermodynamics with emphasis on phase and chemical equilibria and applications to the chemical process industries. Kinetic theory and statistical thermodynamics with emphasis on the prediction and correlation of physical and chemical properties of gases and liquids, including mixtures. Theory and application of flames, plasmas, and shock waves.

CHEG 5302. Chemical Engineering Thermodynamics II (3 credits) Lecture.
An advanced study of classical thermodynamics with emphasis on phase and chemical equilibria and applications to the chemical process industries. Kinetic theory and statistical thermodynamics with emphasis on the prediction and correlation of physical and chemical properties of gases and liquids, including mixtures. Theory and application of flames, plasmas, and shock waves.

CHEG 5311. Transport Phenomena (3 credits) Lecture.
An advanced study of transport phenomena and rate processes with emphasis on a differential balance approach. Designed for non-chemical engineers and chemical engineers with an inadequate background in differential balances.

CHEG 5315. Transfer Operations I (3 credits) Lecture.
An advanced study of momentum, heat and mass transfer with application to complex problems. Cartesian tensors, non-Newtonian flow, statistical theory of turbulence. Mass transfer in multicomponent systems and with chemical reaction. Mass transfer in drops and bubbles; two-phase flow and fluidization.

CHEG 5316. Transfer Operations II (3 credits) Lecture.
An advanced study of momentum, heat and mass transfer with application to complex problems. Cartesian tensors, non-Newtonian flow, statistical theory of turbulence. Mass transfer in multicomponent systems and with chemical reaction. Mass transfer in drops and bubbles; two-phase flow and fluidization.

CHEG 5395. Investigation of Special Topics (1-3 credits) Lecture.
This course is designed for special topics, or for individual students who desire to pursue investigations in a specialized field.

CHEG 5321. Reaction Kinetics I (3 credits) Lecture.
Chemical kinetics and reactor design. An advanced study of chemical reaction engineering with emphasis on catalysis. Applications to stirred-tanks, fixed-bed, and fluidized bed reactors.

CHEG 5331. Process Engineering (3 credits) Lecture.
Applications of thermodynamics, kinetics, unit operations, mechanics, and economics to the design of process plant equipment and complete plant design.

CHEG 5347. Process Dynamics and Control I (3 credits) Lecture.
Dynamic behavior of chemical process operations. Distributed parameter and non-linear processes. Specification of control systems. Stability analysis. Optimal operation of chemical processes. Design of feedback and feedforward control schemes for multiloop processes. Adaptive control.

CHEG 5345. Chemical Engineering Analysis I (3 credits) Lecture.
Techniques for the solution of chemical engineering problems including the solution of ordinary and partial differential equations, numerical analysis, and computer simulation.

CHEG 5336. Optimization (3 credits) Lecture.
Advanced topics in optimization such as linear and nonlinear programming, mixed-integer linear and non-linear programming, deterministic and stochastic global optimization, and interval global optimization. Example applications drawn from engineering.

CHEG 5351. Polymer Physics (3 credits) Lecture.
Modern concepts relating to glassy, rubbery and organized states of bulk polymers. Considers rubber elasticity, glass-to-rubber transitions, networks, elements of crystallization, blends and interfacial phenomena.

CHEG 5352. Polymer Properties (3 credits) Lecture.
Interrelationships between solid state structure, dynamics, and mechanical properties of non-crystalline and semi-crystalline polymers. Considers polymer viscoelasticity, diffusion, failure mechanism, and elementary polymer rheology.

CHEG 5355. Polymer Structure and Morphology (3 credits) Lecture. Prerequisite: CHEM 381.
A fundamental study of the various levels of structure and morphology in polymers from the molecular to the macroscopic level, and how this structure influences the overall material properties. The principle methods used to characterize morphology are described for the analysis of amorphous and crystalline homopolymers, polymer blends, and copolymers.

CHEG 5356. Adhesion (3 credits) Lecture. Prerequisite: CHEG 5351.
A study of both physical and chemical factors controlling adhesion behavior. Thermodynamics, surface energy and surface tension. Intermolecular forces. Surface roughness effects. Mechanical evaluation of bond strength. Factors controlling adhesion durability. Chemical coupling agents.

CHEG 5358. Composite Materials (3 credits) Lecture.
An introduction to the mechanical properties of fiber reinforced composite materials. Included are discussions of the behavior of unidirectional composites, short fiber composites and laminates. Special topics such as fatigue, fracture and environmental effects are also included.

CHEG 5363. Electrochemical Engineering (3 credits) Lecture.
Principles underlying electrochemical processes. Transformation of chemical and electrical energy. Applications of fundamental electrochemical laws to industrial processes, energy conversion, and electrometallurgical operations.

CHEG 5367. Polymer Rheology (3 credits) Lecture.
Analysis of the deformation and flow of polymeric materials. Topics include non-Newtonian flow, viscoelastic behavior and melt fracture with application to polymer processing.

CHEG 5368. Polymer Rheology and Processing Laboratory (3 credits) Lecture/Laboratory. Prerequisite: CHEG 367.
Classical and modern experimental techniques for measuring the viscoelastic properties of polymers. Experiments include: creep, dynamic mechanical analysis, cone and plate viscometer, single-screw extruder, capillary rheometer, and extensional viscosity.

CHEG 5373. Biochemical Engineering (3 credits) Lecture.
Principles and design of processes involving biochemical reactions. Nature of biological materials, biochemical kinetics, heat and mass transfer, application to fermentation and other biological processes.

CHEG 5374. Bioremediation (3 credits) Lecture.
Application of engineering and biological principles toward remediation of hazardous wastes. Degradation of toxic chemicals using genetically-engineered microorganisms. Biological contacting devices for waste remediation.

CHEG 5375. Fermentation and Separation Technology Laboratory (3 credits) Laboratory. Also offered as MCB 5684.
Introduction to techniques used for industrial mass culture of prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells, and methods used to extract useful products from these cultures. Metabolic processes, energentics, growth kinetics and nutrition of microorganisms. Synthesis of cellular material and end products. Heat exchange, oxygen transfer, pH control, sterilization and design of fermentors. Culture of eukaryotic cell mass. Immobilized enzyme and cell reactors. Product recovery methods of precipitation centrifugation, extraction filtration and chromatography.

CHEG 5381. Water Purification Principles (3 credits) Lecture.
An advanced study of the application of thermodynamics, transfer operations, and chemical kinetics to disposal and recovery of aqueous industrial and municipal wastes.

CHEG 5385. Air Pollution (3 credits) Lecture. Prerequisites: CE 5210 or ENVE 5210 for non-CHEG majors.
Sources and properties of air pollutants, atmospheric chemistry, dynamics of atmospheric pollution, analytical and sampling techniques, control and abatement processes and air pollutants.

CHEG 5389. Chemical Transport Processes in the Environment (3 credits) Lecture.
Movement and fate of chemicals within the air, water, and soils in the environments. Emphasis on interfacial processes and exchange rates involving surface water, groundwater and air pollution problems.

CHEG 5393. Seminar 0 credits. Seminar.
CHEG 5394. Seminar 0 credits. Seminar.
*GRAD 5950. Master's Thesis Research 1 - 9 credits.
*GRAD 5960. Full-Time Master's Research 3 credits.
*GRAD 5930. Full-Time Directed Studies (Master's Level) 3 credits.
GRAD 5998. Special Readings (Master's) Non-credit.
GRAD 5999. Thesis Preparation Non-credit.
*GRAD 6950. Doctoral Dissertation Research 1 - 9 credits.
*GRAD 6960. Full-Time Doctoral Research 3 credits.
*GRAD 6930. Full-Time Directed Studies (Doctoral Level) 3 credits.
GRAD 6998. Special Readings (Doctoral) Non-credit.
GRAD 6999. Dissertation Preparation Non-credit.