[citation needed] The subjects covered in the book include: physical properties of chemicals and other materials; mathematics; thermodynamics; heat transfer; mass transfer; fluid dynamics; chemical reactors and chemical reaction kinetics; transport and storage of fluid; heat transfer equipment; psychrometry and evaporative cooling; distillation; gas absorption; liquid-liquid extraction; adsorption and ion exchange; gas–solid, liquid–solid and solid–solid operations; biochemical engineering; waste management, materials of construction, process economics and cost estimation; process safety and many others.

The first edition was edited by John H. Perry who was a PhD physical chemist and chemical engineer for E. I. du Pont de Nemours & Co. W. S. Calcott (ChE) of DuPont was his assistant editor.

The 2018–2019 ninth edition was edited by Don W. Green and Marylee W. Southard [4][5] Don Green, the handbook's editor-in-chief, holds a B.S.

On the other hand, Marylee Southard, the associate editor, holds B.S., M.S.

and PhD Degrees in chemical engineering from the University of Kansas.