Chemistry

Engineering chemistry helps students to consolidate the basic principles and concepts they learnt in the PUC classes. It also equips them with a sound footing of knowledge of materials, their characteristics, analysis and manufacturing processes. The whole gamut of materials such as cement, iron ore, solar grade silicon, petroleum products, corrosion inhibitors, polymers  such as  polycarbonate, polymethyl methacrylate (plexiglass),  polyurethane,  synthetic rubbers, CNT composites etc. are currently  core engineering materials. An in-depth knowledge of their applications and importance cannot be overlooked by budding engineers. Process technology updating has turned out to be the life – line activity of a practicing engineer. Time is not far away when every chemical, worth the name, need to be manufactured by a perfectly environmental friendly green process. This challenging task demands a thorough knowledge of sophisticated catalysts, nanoparticles, bond energies and thermodynamic concepts. Air pollution in industrially and   agriculturally developed regions as also thickly populated pockets of the country is crossing all leaps and bounds. Irritant gases – free automobile exhausts has become a compelling need of the day, the alternative to which is switching on to electrical vehicles. This in turn necessitates the availability of far more efficient batteries with minimal charging time. A wise application of engineering design and   chemistry of novel materials can solve this challenge. Drinking water pollution with heavy metals and coli-form bacteria has reached alarming proportions in   water sources near the so called industrially and agriculturally developed areas and thickly populated residential areas. Very precise, sensitive and sophisticated instrumental and chemical methods of analysis are required to monitor non – permissible levels of such pollutants in water. Engineering chemistry lab experiments are specially designed to train students to do this job and suggest effective measures to provide clean potable water at a reasonable cost through reverse osmosis and electro dialysis approaches.

Department profile

The department of chemistry was established in 2010 to impart basic knowledge in engineering chemistry to all the under graduate engineering programs. A consistent and near 90% result could be kept up all these years with the help of four well qualified faculty.   Since 2014 a well-established VTU recognized research center has been functioning providing research facilities leading to a Doctoral degree in chemistry. Three research scholars have registered for the PhD programme.  Also the faculties have been very active in publishing results of their research work in peer reviewed journals. The research activities taken up by the faculty in the department include medicinal chemistry, natural products, corrosion studies, synthetic chemistry etc.