This concentration brings together courses that allow students to tackle the key issues of the 21st century: pollution and energy. In order to better understand the issues surrounding pollution, students will have the opportunity to develop skills in water and discharge treatment, life-cycle analysis, ecotoxicology and solid waste management processes. Energy recovery, development of fuel cells and electrochemical storage and conversion of biomass challenges will be included and treated in a sustainable development perspective.

By following the courses of this concentration, a student might undertake projects such as designing a chemical plant which processes residual materials, for example forest residues or CO₂, completing a real life-cycle analysis of a service or product, for example an electric car, or tackling ecotoxicology case studies.

This concentration aims to train chemical engineers capable of managing design, development and management projects related to agri-food, biotech or pharmaceutical processes. The courses give students the skills to design both products and processes, with a strong understanding of the different norms pertaining to clean processes.

By choosing this option, a student might design a beer brewing unit, work on processes used in biopharmaceutical products or carry out case studies on processes such as dairy transformation.

The increasing performance of computers and numerical methods make digital simulation an indispensable tool in the analysis and design of products and processes in both industry and research. The concentration known as Simulation-Based Engineering Science aims to enrich students' training and to make them enlightened users of the principles, the methods and the tools of modelling and simulation within the “cycle of modelling” framework. The concentration also aims to familiarize students with digital methods and know-how by organizing learning around practical cases. Students will be better prepared to take a critical look at both the strategic choices of resolution methods and the accuracy and reliability of predictions through V & V training. This concentration is offered jointly to students in mechanical, chemical and aerospace engineering programs.

By choosing this option, a student could learn to simulate flows of fluids and powders, fluid-structure interactions and heat exchanges, which intervene in a multitude of unit operations’ modelling. They could also learn the basics of verifying and validating these digital models.

The polymer industry—largely composed of SMEs—is typically linked to the aeronautics and aerospace, automotive, packaging, sporting goods and construction sectors. This concentration’s studies focus on the acquisition of skills related to the development of high-performance polymers and polymer-reinforced (composite) systems and their manufacture. The engineer who completes this concentration will be able to design new polymer-based products, biopolymers and composites, to improve the shaping and recycling strategies of these materials, and will be at the forefront of new processes’ development in a context of globalization and sustainable development.

By choosing this option, a student would have the opportunity to produce polymer films and containers using a thermoforming process as well as parts using the injection moulding process. They could also work on a comprehensive project about plastic production from scrap wood or the production of plastic beer bottles.

This concentration gives students the opportunity to deepen their skills in process engineering, particularly in the areas of advanced control, integration and process energy optimization. These tools are required to work in the development and operation of high-efficiency, energy-efficient and minimal impact processes.

By choosing this option, a student might program several numerical methods and/or design 2D numerical simulation software for several physical problems such as powders flow or fluids flow.

This concentration gives students the skills and knowledge necessary to carry out engineering activities, including design, in the mineral resource processing sector, at the mineral processing operations level (enrichment, concentration, rejects) and pyrometallurgical operations level (roasting, smeltage, reduction/electrolysis, refining). This sector of activity, of great importance in Quebec, provides opportunities for work in major urban centres (consulting engineering, specialty metals), peripheral regions (aluminum smelters, steel mills, tailings processing) and remote regions (mining sites).

A student who chooses this concentration will have the opportunity to work with process simulation software, to learn more about the pyrometallurgical industry in Quebec or to work in the lab to analyse minerals at the atomic scale using a scanning electron microscope.

Students can create their own tailored concentration. However, this concentration will have to be relevant and coherent with a career in chemical engineering, and must be approved by the program manager. This concentration should include a set of courses totalling 12 credits.