The unlikely architect of modern living: industrial chemistry
Chemistry is a fundamental building block of everyday life. It is an essential part of how we understand the world, how we create many of the products people use, and how we can unlock solutions to some of the world’s biggest challenges. Much of the world built around us wouldn’t be possible without the contributions of industrial chemists.
Industrial chemists create the “recipe” of chemicals needed in a product. Through developing this “recipe” or formula, industrial chemists create products that are safe, effective, and suitable for mass production. Ian Steinke, a graduate of the Ferris State University Industrial Chemistry program, said, “When I think about the things I use most often – plastics, pharmaceuticals, personal care products, even the screen on my phone – everyone depends on industrial chemistry. It’s what bridges scientific theory and something people can actually use.”
Bringing products to life
After chemists create the recipe for a product, they test and refine formulas to make sure every product is safe for consumption before it is produced on a large scale. Ferris State Industrial Chemistry alum, Emy Jordan explains, “Testing for purity of the product makes a big difference by ensuring you are making the product correctly through each step.” For example, mascara may seem like a simple cosmetic product designed to enhance eyelashes, but in fact, it is a carefully balanced mixture of chemical compounds, polymers, preservatives, and thickening waxes. Each ingredient serves a purpose, and the absence of even one component could alter the product’s performance entirely.
“The production of polymers, pigments, coatings, and preservatives is all the result of precise chemical innovation on a large scale,” Steinke said. “This discipline, safely, efficiently, and on a scale that improves lives, takes molecules from the lab bench to the marketplace. Without it, we wouldn’t have reliable medications, clean water, modern materials, or sustainable fuels.”
The impact of industrial chemistry
The influence of industrial chemistry is evident in areas often taken for granted, like clean drinking water. Most drinking water in the United States originates from groundwater, lakes, or rivers before undergoing a series of treatments using industrial chemical processes.
“Chemistry can feel abstract until you realize how much it underlies real-world products and technologies,” Stienke explains. “I see it as the part of chemistry that most directly serves society–it turns knowledge into impact.”
Toothpaste offers another everyday example. Beyond its refreshing, minty flavor, toothpaste is a complex blend of chemicals that play a big part in maintaining oral health. Fluoride helps strengthen tooth enamel and prevent cavities, while abrasives such as calcium carbonate remove plaque and debris. Industrial chemistry shapes countless products and processes that define modern living.
Ferris State’s Industrial Chemistry program prepares students with the lab experience to build a career in chemistry.
“My Industrial Chemistry degree from Ferris State gave me a strong foundation in chemistry, but more importantly, it taught me how to apply my knowledge to solving chemical problems. The applied, hands-on nature of the program helped me understand how chemistry translates from theory to practice,” said Steinke.
Jordan echoed, “My degree gave me experience in learning the theory and giving me the hands-on experience of the testing I do today.”