Kinetics, Catalysis and Reaction Engineering

The Kinetics, Catalysis and Reaction Engineering program will introduce students to the design and operation of chemical and catalytic reactors. These vessels are usually the most important part in a chemical plant or oil refinery. Chemical Engineers, with their knowledge of kinetics, heat and mass transfer, separations and control, are the only engineers trained with all the tools necessary to work with reactors. The team of instructors for this concentration is part of the Purdue Catalysis Center (PCC) and spans molecular level control of catalyst synthesis; detailed chemical kinetic analysis; a wide variety of structural and chemical characterization methods for catalysts, their surfaces and their interactions with reacting gases; molecular level theory; reactor modeling, analysis and design; and practical aspects of industrial processes. With this expertise the PCC group offers unique opportunities for students to be trained in all aspects of developing new technologies, including simulations, experimentation, and economic analysis. In addition, we currently expose about 50 undergraduate, graduate and postdoctoral students in the PCC to hands-on projects from fundamental science to industrial practice. Students joining this concentration will be in an ideal environment to learn this science and technology, augment it with specific management courses, and be able to apply the knowledge to solve important practical problems.

Professional Master’s Program Degree Map

MSChE – Kinetics, Catalysis and Reaction Engineering - 12-month Track

  • Students must earn a “C” or better in all graduate-level coursework
  • Students must complete at least 15 credits of coursework with a CHE prefix
  • Students must have a cumulative GPA of 2.7 or higher to graduate

Degree Requirements

30 credits required for graduation:

  • 6 Credits of Core ChE Course:
    • (3) CHE 69700 – Statistical Methods in Chemical Engineering OR CHE 53000 – Engineering Math
    • (3) CHE 54000 – Transport Phenomena
  • 9 Credits of Concentration Elective Courses
  • 9 Credits of Management/Business Courses from the following:
    • (3) CHE 59700 – Engineering Applications in Marketing Mgmt
    • (3) CHE 59700 – Financial Analysis & Management of Projects
    • (3) MGMT 65000 – Strategic Management I
    • (3) MGMT 66000 – Intro to Operations Management
  • 6 Credits of ChE Capstone Project

Degree Map Example

Fall Semester (12 credits)

___ (3) CHE 69700 – Statistical Methods in Chemical Engineering

___ (3) CHE 59700 – Engineering Applications in Marketing Mgmt

___ (3) Concentration Elective Course (chosen from the list below)

___ (3) Concentration Elective Course (chosen from the list below)

Spring Semester (12 credits)

___ (3) CHE 54000 – Transport Phenomena

___ (3) CHE 59700 – Financial Analysis & Management of Projects

___ (3) MGMT 65000 – Strategic Management I OR (3) MGMT 66000 – Intro to Operations Management

___ (3) Concentration Elective Course (chosen from the list below)

Summer Semester (6 Credits)

___ (6) CHE 59700 – Prof. MS Capstone Project

Potential Concentration Elective Courses:

___ (3) CHE 46300 – Applications of ChE Principles
___ (3) CHE 54300 – Polymerization React Engr Reactor Analysis
___ (3) CHE 55400 – Smart Mfg in Process Industries
___ (3) CHE 56200 – Battery Systems
___ (3) CHE 56400 – Organic Elect. Materials & Devices
___ (3) CHE 59700 – Data Science in ChE
___ (3) CHE 59700 – Industrial Catalytic Processes
___ (3) CHE 59700 – Industrial Chemical Technology
___ (3) CHE 59700 – Process Safety
___ (3) CHE 59700 – Electrochemistry & Electrochemical Engr
­___ (3) CHE 66200 – Catalysis
___ (3) CHE 66600 – Methods in Catalysis
___ (3) CHE 69700 – Advanced Modeling for Catalysis
___ (3) CHM 64200 – Advanced Inorganic Chemistry
___ (3) CHM 64600 – Kinetics & Mechs of Inorganic Reactions
___ (3) CHM 64700 – Transition Metal and Organometallic Chem
___ (3) CHM 65100 – Advanced Organic Chemistry
___ (3) ME 50500 – Intermediate Heat Transfer
___ (3) MSE 52500 – Struct-Property Relations of Eng Polymers
___ (3) MSE 54700 – Introduction to Surface Science 

Professional Master’s Program Degree Map

MSChE – Kinetics, Catalysis and Reaction Engineering – 16-month Track

  • Students must earn a “C” or better in all undergraduate graduate-level coursework
  • Students must complete at least 15 credits of coursework with a CHE prefix
  • Students must have a cumulative GPA of 2.7 or higher to graduate

Degree Requirements

41 credits required for graduation

  • 11 credits of pre-requisite courses:
    • (4) CHE 20500 – Chemical Engineering Calculations
    • (3) CHE 30600 – Separations Processes
    • (4) CHE 34800 – Reaction Engineering
  • 6 Credits of Core ChE Course:
    • (3) CHE 53000 – Engineering Math
    • (3) CHE 54000 – Transport Phenomena
  • 9 Credits of Concentration Elective Courses
  • 9 Credits of Management/Business Courses from the following:
    • (3) CHE 59700 – Engineering Applications in Marketing Mgmt
    • (3) CHE 59700 – Financial Analysis & Management of Projects
    • (3) MGMT 65000 – Strategic Management I
    • (3) MGMT 66000 – Intro to Operations Management
  • 6 Credits of ChE Capstone Project

Degree Map Example

Fall Semester 1 (10 credits)

___ (4) CHE 20500 – Chemical Engineering Calculations

___ (3) CHE 53000 – Engineering Math

___ (3) Concentration Elective Course (from the list below)

Spring Semester 1 (13-16 credits)

___ (3) CHE 30600 – Separations Processes

___ (4) CHE 34800 – Reaction Engineering

___ (3) CHE 54000 – Transport Phenomena

___ (3) CHE 59700 – Financial Analysis & Management of Projects

___ (3) MGMT 65000 – Strategic Management I OR (3) MGMT 66000 – Intro to Operations Management

Summer Semester 1 (6 Credits)

___ (6) CHE 59700 – Prof. MS Capstone Project

Fall Semester 2 (9 Credits)

___ (3) CHE 59700 – Engineering Applications in Marketing Mgmt

___ (3) Concentration Elective Course (from the list below)

___ (3) Concentration Elective Course (from the list below)

Potential Concentration Elective Courses:

___ (3) CHE 46300 – Applications of ChE Principles
___ (3) CHE 54300 – Polymerization React Engr Reactor Analysis
___ (3) CHE 55400 – Smart Mfg in Process Industries
___ (3) CHE 56200 – Battery Systems
___ (3) CHE 56400 – Organic Elect. Materials & Devices
___ (3) CHE 59700 – Data Science in ChE
___ (3) CHE 59700 – Industrial Catalytic Processes
___ (3) CHE 59700 – Industrial Chemical Technology
___ (3) CHE 59700 – Process Safety
___ (3) CHE 59700 – Electrochemistry & Electrochemical Engr
­___ (3) CHE 66200 – Catalysis
___ (3) CHE 66600 – Methods in Catalysis
___ (3) CHE 69700 – Advanced Modeling for Catalysis
___ (3) CHM 64200 – Advanced Inorganic Chemistry
___ (3) CHM 64600 – Kinetics & Mechs of Inorganic Reactions
___ (3) CHM 64700 – Transition Metal and Organometallic Chem
___ (3) CHM 65100 – Advanced Organic Chemistry
___ (3) ME 50500 – Intermediate Heat Transfer
___ (3) MSE 52500 – Struct-Property Relations of Eng Polymers
___ (3) MSE 54700 – Introduction to Surface Science