Think about the multitude of products that you use every day. Where do they come from? Almost all products, from vitamins to computer chips to gasoline, are the result of some sort of process that extracts raw materials and transforms them into something useful. The term process technology refers to chemical processing used to refine raw materials into finished products.

For example, process technology is used to refine crude oil. Crude oil (petroleum) is a complex mixture of chemical compounds. The hydrocarbons (molecules made of hydrogen and carbon) that make up crude oil vary in structure and size and can be used to make a variety of products, from gasoline and kerosene to wax, plastics, and rubber. However, first the hydrocarbons need to be separated by type. Because different compounds have different boiling points, one way to refine crude oil is to use heat to separate out the different hydrocarbons.

Another example of process technology is the method by which plastic bottles are recycled into thread. Plastic bottles and other containers made of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) can be converted into new products such as fabrics for clothing. The containers are sorted by color and inspected and cleaned so that any non-PET materials (such as bottle caps or other foreign materials) are removed. The clean containers are then crushed and chopped into small flakes, which can be melted and formed into thread.

Process technology is used in petroleum refining, mining, milling, power generation, waste and wastewater management, food and beverage production, pharmaceutical and chemical manufacturing, and many other industries. Industries of all types require workers to implement and operate the technology used in the production process. These individuals are called process technicians. A process technician may be responsible for controlling and monitoring process systems, testing products, and troubleshooting equipment. There is an ongoing demand for qualified process technicians who can work with instrumentation and equipment and understand safety measures. In addition, process technicians must have good communication skills, be able to maintain accurate data logs and prepare reports, and work effectively in a team environment.

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