A professional who controls equipment that processes coal tar hydrocarbons into intermediate compounds for use in manufacture of dyestuffs and pharmaceutical products. Respnsibilities include:

• Measures coal tar derivatives, using balance scales and volume indicators.
• Shovels or pumps derivatives into specified containers.
• Observes recording instruments, and adjusts steam, water, and vacuum valves to regulate temperature and pressure during chemical reactions that produce specified intermediates.
• Tests acidity of intermediates, using pH indicators.
• Tests solubility of intermediates in liquids, such as water, alcohol, and chloroform.
• Adds specified chemicals to intermediates to ensure that they meet requirements.
• Dumps ice into intermediates to reduce temperature.
• Pumps intermediates through filter to remove liquid residue.
• Heats intermediates and circulates vapors through condenser lines to isolate components of intermediates.
• May be designated according to equipment tended as kettle operator ii; tub operator; process involved as bromination equipment operator; sulfonation equipment operator; or material produced as optical-brightener maker.