Plant Chemist / Distillation Operator who can bridge the gap between floor operations and laboratory quality analysis. In this role, you will take ownership of operating distillation columns while directly performing the wet chemical and analytical testing required to verify solvent purity in real time.
Key Responsibilities:
Plant Operations (Floor):
- Start up, operate, and shut down solvent distillation columns, vacuum systems, reboilers, and cooling towers.
- Control reflux rates, temperature gradients, and pressure differentials across packed/tray columns.
- Direct solvent cuts into designated receiving tanks based on boiling point cutoffs and purity metrics.
- Supervise raw feedstock unloading, finished product transfers, and static grounding protocols.
Laboratory & Quality Testing (Bench):
- Draw representative samples from incoming tankers, distillation cuts, and finished product receivers.
- Run routine analytical tests:
Gas Chromatography (GC assay), moisture content via Karl Fischer (KF), boiling range, refractive index, and specific gravity.
- Translate lab findings immediately into operational changes (e.g., increasing reflux ratio or adjusting heating rates).
- Maintain batch logs, analytical test registers, and issue Certificates of Analysis (CoA).
Required Qualifications & Skills:
- Education:
B.Sc. / M.Sc. (Chemistry or Industrial Chemistry) or Diploma in Chemical Engineering / ITI AOCP with lab experience.
- Experience:
0–5 years in a solvent recovery, distillation, or bulk organic chemical manufacturing unit.
- Core Competencies:
Ability to operate distillation columns independently while proficiently handling GC testing and Karl Fischer moisture analysis.