The Auburn University Department of Chemical Engineering is among the top departments in the southeast in research expenditures per faculty member. In the October 28, 2002 issue of Chemical and Engineering News the AU Chemical Engineering Department was ranked 11th in the nation in research expenditures for the year 2000. Recent research supporters include: NSF, DARPA, DOE, DTRA, ONR, Army (TSWG), USDA, DOE-BES, Ratheon, Army (SMDC), and various other government agencies and industries. Furthermore, Chemical Engineering is the host department for two research and education centers: The Alabama Center for Paper and Bioresource Engineering and The Center for Microfibrous Materials Manufacturing.
Research Thrusts
The major research thrusts in the Department of Chemical Engineering include:
Research in the area of biotechnology and bio-resources includes bio-processing, environmental biotechnology, fiber substitutes, bio-catalysis, bio-sensors and biomedical applications including advanced drug delivery systems.
In the advanced energy resources and systems area, emphasis is on efficient production of ultra-clean fuels from renewable and conventional resources, mobile fuel processors, high performance energy conversion and storage systems, process efficiency and energy production.
Synthesis and applications of molecularly and chemically engineered materials focus on microfibrous materials, nano-structured materials and nano-technology, nano-functional materials, bio-filtration, polymers, bio-polymers and sensors.
One goal of the department's research is to develop products, processes and services in a sustainable manner to improve the quality of life, the natural environment and the competitiveness of industry. Research in the area of sustainable engineering and green chemistry include waste minimization, resource conservation, process integration and optimization, recycle technologies, renewable resources, solvent selection and substitution.
The department has state of the art computational equipment available including numerous high end PC's and several Sun workstations. Available chemical engineering software packages include Aspen Plus, Pro/II, and WinGEMS.
