Chemical Engineering

Department of Chemical Engineering

General Office: Head Hall, Room D-39
Mailing Address: Department of Chemical Engineering, 
University of New Brunswick,
P.O. Box 4400, Fredericton, N.B.,
Canada, E3B 5A3 
Phone: (506) 453-4520
Fax: (506)453-3591
Email: chemeng@unb.ca
Website: //www.unb.ca/fredericton/engineering/depts/chemical

 Faculty

  • Bendrich, Guida, Dipl. Ing. (T.F.H. Berlin), PhD (McM), PEng, Eur. Ing., Prof - 1995
  • Chibante, Felipe, BSc Chemistry (McG), PhD (Rice), MArts (Rice), MChem (Rice), Assoc. Prof. - 2007
  • Collins, Frank, BScE (UNB), PEng, Associate Teaching Professor and Assist. Dean 1st Year - 2002
  • Cook, William, BScE, MScE, PhD (UNB), PEng, Prof,  Director CNER - 2004
  • Eic, Mladen, Dipl. Ing. (Sarajevo), MSc (Zagreb), MSc (Worcester Poly. Inst), PhD (UNB), PEng, Prof – 1990
  • He, Zhibin (Ben), BSE Chem Eng, MScE Chem Eng (Shaanxi Univ, Science & Tech), PhD (UNB), PEng, Asst Prof - 2021
  • Lowry, Brian, BASc, MASc (Tor), PhD (Cornell), PEng, Assoc Prof – 1995
  • Miles, Jamie, Dipl.Eng.(UPEI), BScE, MScE (UNB), PEng, Associate Teaching Professor - 2013
  • Ni, Yonghao, BEng (Northwest Inst of Light Industry), MEng, PhD (McG), PEng, Prof, and Canada Research Chair in Pulping Technology - 1993
  • Palazhchenko, Olga, BSc (Hons) Chemistry, MSc Materials Chemistry (UOIT), PhD Chem Eng (UNB), PEng, Asst Prof - 2021
  • Romero-Zerón, Laura, BSC, MSc (Los Andes), PhD (Calg), PEng,  Prof - 2004
  • Singh, Kripa, BE (Birla Inst), ME (Asian Inst), PhD (Regina), PEng, Prof (Joint-Civil Eng.) – 2000
  • Xiao, Huining, BEng, MEng (Nanjing), PhD (McM), PEng, Prof - 2001

General Information

Chemical Engineering is the discipline of engineering that uses physical sciences to convert raw materials into desired products and services. A chemical engineering education includes a broad background in basic sciences and mathematics and advanced knowledge in the design and operation of process equipment used to produce fuels, plastics, petrochemicals, fertilizers, electricity, pharmaceuticals, paper, etc. This degree program prepares students for direct employment in industry and provides a strong foundation for graduate degrees in engineering, business or law. Students may complete the general program or elect to concentrate their studies on one of two option programs: Biomedical Engineering or Energy Conversion Engineering.

Curriculum

A minimum of 163 credit hours (ch) is required to obtain a bachelors degree in Chemical Engineering. Twelve credit hours of these are technical electives and twelve credit hours are complementary studies electives. The degree program may be completed in eight terms of study. Students who participate in the Co-Operative Education (Co-Op) program normally complete the program in five years. Students may opt for a program which spans a longer period of time provided all required courses are taken. Details can be obtained by contacting the Director of Undergraduate Studies.

The credit system allows considerable flexibility in designing programs of study but unless care is exercised difficulties may arise with course scheduling. Students are requested to consult with the Academic Advisor or the Director of Undergraduate Studies if they plan to follow a program that differs significantly from the timetable shown in the Program Guide issued at the time of acceptance into the program.

Core Courses

CHE 2003 Fundamentals I - Mass Balances
CHE 2004 Fundamentals II - Mass & Energy Balances
CHE 2012 Engineering Thermodynamics
CHE 2301 Transport Phenomena in Chemical Engineering
CHE 2412 Chemical Engineering Lab I
CHE 2501 General Materials Science
CHE 2506 Materials Science Laboratory
CHE 2525 Fundamentals of Chemical Process Design
CHE 2703 Fluid & Fluid Particle Mechanics
CHE 3123 Chemical Engineering Thermodynamics
CHE 3304 Heat Transfer
CHE 3324 Unit Operations I
CHE 3332 Mass Transfer
CHE 3418 Numerical Methods & Modeling in Chemical Engineering Processes
CHE 3424 Chemical Engineering Lab II
CHE 3434 Chemical Engineering Lab III
CHE 3505 Chemical Process Design
CHE 4101 Chemical Reaction Engineering I
CHE 4601 Process Dynamics & Control
CHE 4341 Unit Operations 2
CHE 4404 Chemical Engineering Lab IV
BIOL 1001 Biological Principles I
CHEM 1982 General Applied Chemistry
CHEM 1987 General Applied Chemistry Laboratory
CHEM 2401 Introductory Organic Chemistry for Non-Chemistry Majors
CHEM 3621 Physical Chemistry II
CHEM 3886 Analytical Chemistry Laboratory for Chemical Engineers
CHEM 3897 Organic Chemistry Laboratory for Chemical Engineers
CHEM 4886 Physical Chemistry Laboratory for Chemical Engineers
PHYS 1081 Foundations of Physics for Engineers
CS 1003 Introduction to Computer Programming
ECE 1813 Electricity & Magnetism
ENGG 1001 Engineering Practice Lecture Series
ENGG 1003 Engineering Technical Communications
ENGG 1015 Introduction to Engineering Design and Problem Solving
ENGG 1082 Mechanics for Engineers
ENGG 4000 Senior Design Project
ENGG 4013 Law & Ethics for Engineers
MATH 1003 Introduction to Calculus I
MATH 1013 Introduction to Calculus II
MATH 1503 Introduction to Linear Algebra
MATH 2513 Multivariable Calculus for Engineers
MATH 3503 Differential Equations for Engineers
STAT 2593 Statistics for Engineers

Capstone Design Course. The multidisciplinary design course ENGG 4000 is restricted to chemical engineering students who have completed CHE 3304 and CHE 3505, and are co-registered in CHE 4101, CHE 4341 and CHE 4601. Students who are pursuing a Diploma in Technology Management and Entrepreneurship (DTME) may take TME 4025 in place of ENGG 4000 if they have successfully completed six credit hours of DTME Core Courses and have the approval of the Director of Undergraduate Studies.

Electives

Technical Electives

The Chemical Engineering degree program consists of a minimum of 12 ch of technical electives chosen from the list of courses below. Technical elective courses in chemical engineering are typically designated as a 5000 level course and are offered on a rotating basis. Note that not every course is offered in each academic year thus students should consult with the Department for more information on planned elective course offerings.

The Department also offers three option programs within its technical elective stream: Energy Conversion EngineeringBiomedical Engineering, and Nuclear Engineering. These options are offered to students wishing to have an area of specialization within the chemical engineering discipline. Those who successfully complete an option will receive a special notation on their university transcript upon graduation. More information on these options is given below.

CHE 1001 Introduction to Chemical Engineering (1 ch)
CHE 5234 Oil & Gas Process Engineering (3 ch)
CHE 5244 Enhanced Oil Recovery Processes (3 ch)
CHE 5264 Oil Sands Technology (3 ch)
CHE 5274 Re-Engineering Waste - A Chemical Engineering Approach (3 ch)
CHE 5313 Energy and the Environment (3 ch)
CHE 5314 Chemical Process Industries (3 ch)
CHE 5413 Air Pollution Control (3 ch)
CHE 5416 Bioseperations Science and Engineering (3 ch)
CHE 5423 Chemical Engineering Practice School (4 ch)
CHE 5522 Nanotechnology (3 ch)
CHE 5714 Electrochemical Engineering (3 ch)
CHE 5724 Special Topics in Chemical Engineering (1 ch)
CHE 5725 Special Topics in Chemical Engineering (2 ch)
CHE 5726 Special Topics in Chemical Engineering (3 ch)
CHE 5734 Chemical Engineering Report (3 ch)
CHE 5735 Thesis (6 ch)
CHE 5744 Steam Supply Systems (3 ch)
CHE 5804 Nuclear Chemical Processes (3 ch)
CHE 5824 Corrosion Process (3 ch)
CHE 5834 Introduction to Nuclear Engineering (3 ch)
CHE 5844 Nuclear Safety and Rebliability (3 ch)
CHE 5854 Nuclear Heat Removal (3 ch)
CHE 5855 Nuclear Reactor Physics (3 ch)
CHE 5877 Advanced Nuclear Systems (3 ch)
CHE 5913 Pulp Production (3 ch)
CHE 5923 Papermaking (3 ch)
CHE 5933 Bio-refining: Principles, Processes and Products (3 ch)
BIOL 2023 Introductory Biochemistry (3 ch)
CE 5421 Water Quality and Treatment (4 ch)
CE 5432 Wastewater Treatment and Pollution Control (4 ch)

Complementary Studies Program

Complementary studies are an important element in engineering education. The Chemical Engineering degree program consists of a minimum of 12 ch of Complementary Studies electives satisfying each of the following core categories:

  • Humanities – minimum 3 ch (Sociology, Anthropology, History, Classics, Philosophy, Political Science)
  • Business/Management – minimum 3 ch (Administration, Tech. Management and Entrepreneurship, or select Economics courses)
  • Non-Language – minimum 3 ch (Humanities, Business or any PSYC, RSS, ENVM, IDS, RCLP, ARTS, CCS)
  • Other Approved – minimum 3 ch (course approved by the Director of Undergraduate Studies)

The Department strongly encourages its students to obtain business-related education through the complementary studies stream and to pursue a diploma in Technology Management and Entrepreneurship, which is offered by the Faculty of Engineering. For more information on integrating this diploma with the undergraduate degree in chemical engineering, please contact the Director of Undergraduate Studies.

Distance Education

CHE 2501 is available by distance education. 

Students wishing to take courses from any outside institution as credit towards their degree must receive approval from the Director of Undergraduate Studies prior to enrolling in the course at the outside institution.

International Exchange Program

The Department offers an opportunity for its students to study abroad and receive course credits towards an undergraduate degree. Students interested in international study must be in good academic standing and receive prior approval from the Department for degree transfer credit. Interested students should consult with the Director of Undergraduate Studies to obtain more information.

Energy Conversion Engineering Option in Chemical Engineering

The chemical engineer must include environmental stewardship as a design requirement in the conversion of energy resources into commodity products and services. This option places emphasis on emerging technologies and societal issues in the energy and environment sector within chemical engineering. The directed path consists of 1 required course, 1 complementary studies elective and 3 technical elective courses (minimum total of 15 ch) selected from the approved lists below. To participate in the option students must obtain Department approval.

Core: 
CHE 5313 Energy and the Environment

Complementary Studies Elective: (1 course from the following list): 

ECON 3865 Energy Economics (3 ch)
ENVM 2023 Climate Change (3 ch)
ENVM 3005 Environmental Management: People, Policy & Planning (3 ch)
ENVM 4001 Environmental Impact Assessment and Management (3 ch)
ENVM 4002 Stakeholder Approaches to Environmental Problem Solving (3 ch)
ENVM 2021 Natural Resource Management, Institutions, Policy, and Governance (3 ch)
HIST 3925 Technology and Society (3 ch)

Technical Elective: (3 courses from the following list):
NOTE: One course substitution can be made at the discretion of the Director of Undergraduate Studies.

CE 5421 Water Quality and Treatment (4 ch)
CE 5432 Wastewater Treatment and Pollution Control (4 ch)
CHE 5234 Oil Refining and Natural Gas Processing (3 ch)
CHE 5244 Enhanced Oil Recovery (3 ch)
CHE 5264 Oil Sands Technology (3 ch)
CHE 5274 Re-Engineering Waste - A Chemical Engineering Approach (3 ch)
CHE 5314 Chemical Process Industries (3 ch)
CHE 5413 Air Pollution Control (3 ch)
CHE 5824 Corrosion Processes (3 ch)
CHE 5834  (3 ch) or ME 5373 Nuclear Engineering (3 ch)
CHE 5933 Biorefining: Principles, Processes and Products (3 ch)
ME 5553 Ocean Wave Energy Conversion (4 ch)
ME 5933 Industrial Ecology (3 ch)

Students with special interest in environmental studies are encouraged to pursue a minor or secondary major in this area through the university’s Environmental Studies Program, administered by the Faculty of Forestry and Environmental Management. The Department also encourages interested students to pursue a Masters of Engineering degree in environmental studies after graduation.

Biomedical Engineering Option in Chemical Engineering

Biomedical Engineering is an exciting and growing area of specialization within the Chemical Engineering discipline. The Biomedical Engineering Option in Chemical Engineering is a study path for students wishing to pursue careers in medicine or the health sciences industry. Students who plan on attending medical school are encouraged to seek advising immediately upon entrance into the degree program.

To complete the option program, students must obtain Departmental approval and complete 12 credit hours of technical electives chosen from the list below. Only biomedical option students may use these courses towards the technical elective degree requirements.

Technical Electives: 

NOTE: One course substitution can be made at the discretion of the Director of Undergraduate Studies.

APSC 3953 Basis of Biomedical Engineering (3 ch)
BIOL 1711 Human Anatomy I (4 ch)
BIOL 2013 Evolutionary Genetics (3 ch)
BIOL 2023 Introductory Biochemistry (3 ch)
BIOL 2792 Human Physiology - Systems (3 ch)
BIOL 3043 Cell Biology (3 ch)
CHEM 3523 Medicinal Chemistry (3 ch)
CHEM 4503 ** Biocomputing in Drug Design I (5 ch)
KIN 2062 * Introductory Biomechanics (3 ch)
KIN 3061 * Advanced Biomechanics (4 ch)
KIN 4163 * Workplace Ergonomic Design And Analysis (3 ch)
ME 5913 Biomechanics (4 ch)
PHYS 5993 Magnetic Resonance Imaging (3 ch)

* some option courses require that BIOL 2753 be taken as a prerequisite.
** some option courses require that BIOL 1006 be taken as a prerequisite.

Students with special interest in Biology and Biochemical Engineering are encouraged to pursue a Minor in Biology through the Faculty of Science. Such students should seek advising from the Director of Undergraduate Studies to embark upon this path as soon as possible in the degree program.

Nuclear Power Option in Chemical Engineering

Nuclear Engineering is on the forefront of energy conversion innovation. From large nuclear power plants to small modular reactors (SMR), engineers are intimately involved in the development of advanced technologies. Knowledge is power. 

The Nuclear Power Option Program is available to all students from the Departments of Chemical Engineering.  In order to enter the option program students must meet the following conditions:  

  • Successful completion of 80 ch of the program in Chemical Engineering  
  • Approval by the Department of Chemical Engineering  

In order to complete the option program, students must complete 12 credit hours of technical electives including the core course as indicated below.  

Option core course (required – 3 ch): 

 Select 3 of the following courses (9 ch): 

  • CHE 5744 Steam Supply Systems (3 ch) 
  • CHE 5804 Nuclear Chemical Processes (3 ch) 
  • CHE 5824 Corrosion Processes (3 ch) 
  • CHE 5844 Nuclear Safety and Reliability (3 ch) 
  • CHE 5855 Nuclear Reactor Physics (3 ch)
  • CHE 5877 Advanced Nuclear Systems (3 ch)

NOTE: One course substitution can be made at the discretion of the Director of Undergraduate Studies. 

Co-op Work Term Credit in Chemical Engineering

A student in the Chemical Engineering Undergraduate Program may receive a maximum of 3 ch of Technical Electives (TE) credit when working on an approved project while being on an 8-month or longer Co-op work term.