Career: Chemical or Biochemical Engineering? Which branch will offer a better career after 12th grade?

Chemical vs. Biochemical Engineering: Engineering has always been a top choice for students in India. While there were only 5 to 6 main branches of engineering in the past, today there are more than 40 different types of engineering degrees available. With the changing needs of the industry, new courses have emerged that combine two or more subjects. In this context, BTech in Chemical Engineering and BTech in Chemical and Biochemical Engineering are two important options that often confuse students.

What are Chemical Engineering and Chemical and Biochemical Engineering?
B.Tech in Chemical Engineering is a traditional and established course that has been taught in India since 1921. This course teaches students about industrial processes that convert raw materials into useful products. It provides a strong foundation in chemistry, mathematics, thermodynamics, and process engineering.

On the other hand, B.Tech in Chemical and Biochemical Engineering is a newer and specialized course. It combines chemical engineering with biology. This course focuses on bio-based processes related to pharmaceuticals, biotechnology, food processing, and the environment.

What is taught in these courses?
In Chemical Engineering, students are taught subjects such as fluid mechanics, mass transfer, reaction engineering, process control, and plant design. This study aims to develop safe and efficient systems for large-scale production.

In Chemical and Biochemical Engineering, in addition to the above, emphasis is placed on microbiology, enzymology, fermentation technology, metabolic engineering, and bioprocess design. Students are taught to work with living systems, where hygiene and controlled environments are crucial.

What is the main difference between the two courses?
In Chemical Engineering, students learn to work with reactors, distillation units, heat exchangers, and large industrial equipment. This course is primarily based on non-living chemical processes.

In contrast, in Chemical and Biochemical Engineering, students learn to work with bioreactors, microbes, enzymes, and biomolecules. The work here primarily involves biological processes, which are useful in the pharmaceutical and biotech industries.

What are the career options?
Students of Chemical Engineering can find jobs in the petrochemical, refinery, fertilizer, polymer, plastics, energy, gas, and food processing industries. Their job roles include Process Engineer, Production Engineer, Plant Engineer, and Safety Engineer.

Students of Chemical and Biochemical Engineering find opportunities in biopharma, vaccine manufacturing, biofuels, fermentation industries, environmental biotechnology, and research labs. Roles here include Bioprocess Engineer, Quality Control Analyst, Fermentation Scientist, and R&D Professional.

Placements and Companies
Chemical Engineering students get placements in major companies like Reliance, ONGC, IOCL, GAIL, HPCL, Tata Chemicals, and L&T.
Meanwhile, Chemical and Biochemical Engineering students can work at Biocon, Dr. Reddy’s, Novozymes, Syngene, Sanofi, and other biotech companies. Due to increasing investment in the biotech sector, future prospects in this field are growing rapidly.

Which course should you choose?
If you enjoy mathematics, physics, and working with large industrial plants, then Chemical Engineering is a better option for you. This course is considered more versatile, as it also makes it easier to move into fields like IT, consulting, and finance.

If you are interested in biology and research and want to pursue a career in the pharma or biotech sector, then Chemical and Biochemical Engineering is the right choice for you.

Where can you pursue these courses?
In India, these courses are available at leading institutions like IITs, NITs, Institute of Chemical Technology (ICT), and VIT. These courses are also in high demand in countries like the USA, UK, Netherlands, and Switzerland.

Disclaimer: This content has been sourced and edited from News 18 hindi. While we have made modifications for clarity and presentation, the original content belongs to its respective authors and website. We do not claim ownership of the content.