Make It Clean! Engineering a Multipurpose Cleaning Product
Students work on planning their products.Copyright D. Abascal
Students take on the roles of product designers, chemists, and problem solvers to create an eco-friendly, nontoxic cleaning product for a community co-op. Students investigate how cleaners work, explore the effectiveness of natural ingredients, and examine the health and environmental impacts of traditional chemical-based products. Working collaboratively in teams, they use the engineering design process to research, design, test, and refine their own cleaning formulations using safe, natural materials. To complete the challenge, students design sustainable packaging and develop branding elements, including a product name, logo, and label, to effectively communicate the benefits and environmental responsibility of their cleaner.
Chemical engineers design and improve products that involve chemical processes and formulations, including everyday items such as cleaning products, soaps, detergents, cosmetics, and medicines. They work to select safe and effective ingredients, control chemical reactions, and optimize mixtures to achieve specific product properties such as cleaning power, safety, scent, and environmental impact. In the design of eco-friendly, nontoxic cleaning products, chemical engineers play a critical role by developing formulations that effectively remove dirt and stains while minimizing harm to human health and the environment.
After this activity, students should be able to:
- Describe green chemistry and sustainability principles.
- Demonstrate hands-on skills in product development, testing, and problem solving.
- Practice teamwork, creativity, and communication by presenting the project and working collaboratively.