Year 11 Chemistry Students Visit Aspen Pharma

This past Wednesday, the Year 11 Chemistry class went on an outing to Fine Chemicals Corporation, a division of Aspen Pharmacare, to learn about the applications of chemistry in pharmaceutical manufacturing.  What an interesting visit it was!  We were given a tour of the different on-site laboratories and learnt about large scale chemical manufacturing. 

The plant we visited manufactures APIs (active pharmaceutical ingredients) that are used in the production of medicines.  In every step of this manufacturing process, quality control is vital to ensure a superior product is made.  We toured the Quality Control Laboratory and saw the uses of many of the chemical processes we have learnt about in the classroom.  It was fascinating to see these chemical processes in real-life. 

We also toured the Analytical Development Division Laboratory and the Research & Development Laboratory where analytical chemists conduct further tests to improve product quality and work on more efficient ways to produce these products.  The staff at Fine Chemicals Corporations were very informed and helpful and answered all of our questions about: how the plant operates; the importance of safety in a laboratory; laboratory instrumentation; and the uses of the products they produce.   

Philippa Goch
High School Teacher