Topics

Topics of interest for submission include any topics related to:

1. Core Chemical Engineering 

These topics form the classical bedrock of chemical engineering, focusing on transforming raw materials into valuable products on a large scale.

• Transport Phenomena

  • Fluid Mechanics (Newtonian and non-Newtonian flow)

  • Heat Transfer (Conduction, convection, radiation, and heat exchangers)

  • Mass Transfer (Diffusion, interfacial mass transfer)

• Thermodynamics

  • Phase Equilibria (Vapor-Liquid, Liquid-Liquid equilibria)

  • Chemical Reaction Equilibria

  • Equations of State

• Chemical Reaction Engineering (CRE)

  • Kinetics of homogeneous and heterogeneous reactions

  • Reactor Design (Batch, CSTR, Plug Flow, Packed Bed)

  • Catalysis and catalyst deactivation

• Separation Processes

  • Distillation (Fractional, azeotropic, extractive)

  • Absorption and Stripping

  • Liquid-Liquid Extraction and Leaching

  • Adsorption and Ion Exchange

• Process Dynamics, Control & Safety

  • Feedback and feedforward control loops

  • Process instrumentation

  • HAZOP (Hazard and Operability) analysis and inherently safer design

2. Bioscience & Biochemistry 

This area provides the fundamental biological understanding required to scale up biological systems. It transitions from pure science into engineering applications.

• Molecular Biology & Genetics

  • DNA replication, transcription, and translation

  • Gene regulation and expression

  • Recombinant DNA technology

• Biochemistry & Enzyme Catalysis

  • Structure and function of biomolecules (proteins, lipids, carbohydrates, nucleic acids)

  • Enzyme kinetics (Michaelis-Menten kinetics, inhibition)

  • Metabolic pathways (Glycolysis, Krebs cycle, oxidative phosphorylation)

• Microbiology & Cell Biology

  • Microbial growth kinetics and nutrition

  • Structure of prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells

  • Virology and immunology fundamentals

3. Biotechnology Engineering 

This field directly marries Chemical Engineering principles (like reactor design and separation) with Bioscience.

• Bioprocess Engineering & Bioreactor Design

  • Design of fermenters and bioreactors (stirred tank, airlift, photobioreactors)

  • Sterilization kinetics (air and media)

  • Scale-up criteria for biological reactors

  • Aeration and agitation in biosystems (oxygen transfer rate, $K_L a$)

• Downstream Processing (Bioseparations)

  • Cell disruption techniques (mechanical and chemical)

  • Solid-liquid separation (centrifugation, filtration, flocculation)

  • Advanced purification (chromatography, ultrafiltration, electrophoresis)

  • Lyophilization (freeze-drying) and crystallization

• Genetic & Metabolic Engineering

  • CRISPR and gene editing tools

  • Synthetic biology and metabolic flux analysis

  • Expression vectors and host strain development (E. coli, yeast, mammalian cells)

• Biomedical & Tissue Engineering

  • Biomaterials compatibility

  • Stem cell engineering and organ-on-a-chip

  • Drug delivery systems (nanoparticles, liposomes)

4. Environmental Engineering

Environmental engineering applies chemical and biological processes to clean up waste, protect public health, and ensure sustainable industrial practices.

• Water and Wastewater Treatment

  • Physical/Chemical treatment (coagulation, sedimentation, filtration, chlorination)

  • Biological wastewater treatment (Activated sludge process, trickling filters, anaerobic digesters)

  • Advanced oxidation processes (AOPs) and membrane bioreactors (MBRs)

• Air Pollution Control

  • Particulate emission control (cyclones, electrostatic precipitators, fabric filters)

  • Gaseous emission control (scrubbers, absorption towers, catalytic converters for NO_x/SO_x)

  • Greenhouse gas capture and sequestration (carbon capture)

• Solid and Hazardous Waste Management

  • Landfill engineering and leachate management

  • Incineration and waste-to-energy technologies

  • Nuclear and toxic waste stabilization

• Sustainability & Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA)

  • Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) methodologies

  • Circular economy and industrial ecology

  • Environmental auditing and regulations

5. Major Interrelated Subtopics 

These specific subtopics do not belong to just one discipline; they exist precisely at the intersection of all four.

• Bioremediation & Phytoremediation (Bioscience + Environmental + Biotech)

  • Using genetically engineered microbes or plants to degrade environmental contaminants (e.g., oil spills, heavy metals).

• Biofuels & Bioenergy (Chemical + Biotech + Environmental)

  • Production of ethanol, biodiesel, biogas, and bio-hydrogen from biomass.

  • Thermochemical conversion (pyrolysis, gasification) vs. biochemical conversion (anaerobic digestion, fermentation).

• Green Chemistry & Sustainable Chemical Processes (Chemical + Environmental)

  • Designing atom-economical, non-toxic chemical routes.

  • Replacing organic solvents with supercritical fluids (CO₂) or ionic liquids.

• Bioplastics & Biomaterials (Chemical + Biotech)

  • Synthesis of biodegradable polymers (like PLA or PHAs) using microbial fermentation and chemical polymerization.

• Biosensors & Bioenvironmental Monitoring (Bioscience + Biotech + Environmental)

  • Developing biological analytical devices (using enzymes or antibodies) to detect trace pollutants, pathogens, or toxins in real time.