Introductory level textbook problems illustrating concepts in pharmaceutical engineering

Chemical Engineering faculty members and students from XX University are engaged in a collaborative venture with Engineering Research Center for Structured Organic Particulate Systems (C-SOPS) to create educational materials related to chemical engineering in the pharmaceutical and consumer care industries. The C-SOPS is hosted by Rutgers University and also involves Purdue University; the New Jersey Institute of Technology; and the University of Puerto Rico, Mayagüez, and it is funded by the National Science Foundation. The goal of the Center is to become a national focal point for developing structured organic particulate systems used in pharmaceuticals and their manufacturing processes. XX University has partnered as an outreach/education member institution to expand the impact of the Center through SMET education and outreach. This paper describes problem sets for introductory chemical engineering courses such as material and energy balances. The problems emphasize concepts of unit conversions, engineering calculations, estimations, writing a process flow diagram, mass balances, safety, heat of formation, and looking up physical properties, through the application to problems related to over-the-counter medications and consumer care products. The problems and solutions are readily transferrable for use by instructors at other institutions. These problems will be pilot tested in the fall of 2011.