Comparison between chemical engineering processes and pharmaceutical processes
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I used to work in a chemical plant, dealing with production processes, and I’ve just switched to working in the pharmaceutical industry. After working for just one month, I can see the differences: 1. In terms of output, chemical plants generally produce hundreds of thousands of tons per year, while in the pharmaceutical industry, the output is measured in kilograms, with amounts that are usually only a few dozen or so pieces at most； 2. The main chemical processing equipment consists of reactors and column devices; in the pharmaceutical industry, column devices are used less often, with solvent recovery being the only exception. The main equipment includes reaction vessels, crystallization units, centrifuges, and a large number of drying devices. 3. In chemical plants, the HVAC field is rarely mentioned, as operations take place outdoors. Nowadays, however, HVAC is an important specialty, as heating and ventilation are crucial. I don’t have much knowledge about HVAC. 4. GMP requirements have been introduced for the precision drying workshops; I only know the term by name but don’t understand its details. I’ve been in this industry for only a short time, so my knowledge is limited. Please share your insights on the differences between chemical and pharmaceutical processing processes
Check the drug GMP guidelines regarding equipment and facilities
There are many differences: 1. Pharmaceuticals are subject to requirements such as GMP and FDA regulations, and clean manufacturing facilities are necessary. 2. There are various areas within pharmaceuticals; what the original poster mentioned is mainly related to active pharmaceutical ingredients, which is similar to the chemical industry, but it’s not the same in all cases. 3. The standards and procedures followed differ as well. For example, chemical engineering design starts with process package design, while pharmaceutical design usually begins with URS. Of course, there are many other differences as well; you’ll understand them over time
I worked in the petrochemical industry for the first 8 years, initially working on pharmaceutical formulations and active pharmaceutical ingredient projects. I fully agree with the opinions expressed by the original poster and the person in post 5. Another point is that many pharmaceutical processes are batch operations, while most petrochemical processes are continuous operations. There are also significant differences in design.
This post was last edited by wxch99219 on 2017-2-6 07:53. The chemical industry relies on continuous production, with large output volumes, while the pharmaceutical industry uses intermittent production, resulting in smaller output volumes. The operating procedures differ; in the chemical industry, there are safety and process operation procedures, whereas in the pharmaceutical industry, in addition to these procedures, there is a complete set of guidelines based on GMP standards, including reports, validations, records, and requirements regarding data integrity.
Yes, in the pharmaceutical industry (fine chemicals), most of the process design is proposed by the R&D department, while the engineering department develops the process flow diagrams. If it’s a renovation or expansion, no design institute is needed; it’s required for new projects. Large-scale chemical plants always require design institutes to produce drawings first before construction can begin!
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The active pharmaceutical ingredient falls under the category of fine chemicals; it requires GMP standards as well as specialized drying and packaging processes. High standards are imposed regarding hygiene, as well as occupational health.
The production of active pharmaceutical ingredients is one of the six branches within the pharmaceutical manufacturing industry; it falls under the category of fine chemicals, and it differs significantly from petrochemicals and other forms of bulk chemicals. API production involves high added value, with generally low temperatures and reaction pressures; however, there are many types of raw materials, most of which are irritating or allergenic...