Specific skills:

- Analyzing installations, equipments or processes where matter suffers composition changes, by means of mass and energy balances.

- Integrating basic and common concepts of engineering in Chemical Engineering, Biochemical Engineering and Biotechnology concepts.

- Analyzing, modeling and calculating separation operation based on applied thermodynamic and matter transfer fundamentals.

- Comparing theoretical models and simulation results with real unit results.



Cross curricular skills:

- Managing information technologies.

- Communicating and transferring knowledge, results and ideas in a professional and multidisciplinary environment.

- Organizing and planning activities in working groups.

- Developing leadership in working groups, by means of assigning work taking into account the group diversity.

- Solving chemical Engineering and Biotechnology problems, considering quality and environmental safety.



In this course we will learn the general characteristics of separation processes and the development of the most important ones: absorption and stripping, binary distillation, extraction, drying, crystallization, adsorption, ion exchange, chromatography, membrane separations.

1. Introduction to separation processes. Industrial processes: industrial examples, operation of separation processes. Basic separation techniques: separations by phase addition or creation, separations by barriers, separations by solid agents, separations by external field or gradient. Component recoveries and product purities. Selection of feasible separations.



2. Absorption and stripping of dilute mixtures. Liquid-vapour equilibrium. Equipment. Design considerations. Design of trayed columns: Graphical equilibrium-stage methods, Algebraic methods, Stage efficiency, Flooding, tray diameter and pressure drop. Design of packed columns: HETP, Rate-based method, Liquid holdup, flooding, pressure drop and column diameter.



3. Distillation of Binary Mixtures. Liquid-vapour equilibrium. Distillation methods. Design considerations. McCabe-Thiele method: Rectifying-section operating line, Stripping-section operating line, Feed-stage considerations – the q-line, Number of equilibrium stages and feed-stage location, Limiting conditions. Extensions of the McCabe-Thiele method: Condenser and reboiler heat duties, Optimal reflux ratio, Stage efficiency, Column diameter. Design of packed columns. Batch distillation.



4. Liquid-liquid extraction with ternary systems. Liquid-liquid equilibrium. Industrial processes. Equipment. Design considerations. Representation of ternary data. Single stage extraction: Partially miscible systems, Immiscible systems. Crosscurrent extraction: Partially miscible systems, Immiscible systems. Countercurrent extraction: Partially miscible systems, Immiscible systems.



5. Leaching. Solid-liquid equilibrium. Industrial processes. Equipment. Equilibrium-stage model for steady state: Single stage leaching, Crosscurrent leaching, Countercurrent leaching. Rate-based models: Homogeneous model, Shrinking-core model.



6. Drying of solids. Drying equilibrium. Industrial processes. Psychrometry: Psychrometric chart, Wet-bulb and adiabatic-saturation temperatures. Drying kinetics: Constant-rate and falling-rate drying periods. Dryer models: Continuous dryers, Batch dryers, Improvement of the drying efficiency.



7. Crystallisation. Crystallization equilibrium. Crystal geometry and distribution. Industrial processes. Crystallization kinetics: nucleation and crystal growth. Equipment. Crystalliser models: Steady state mass, energy and crystal-population balances.



8. Adsorption, Ion Exchange and Chromatography. Adsorbents and Ion exchangers. Adsorption and ion-exchange equilibrium. Transport processes. Design of adsorption and ion exchange processes: Stirred-tank and fixed-bed processes. Adsorption and ion exchange cycles. Chromatography.



9. Introduction to membrane separations. Membrane materials. Modules and industrial units. Mass transfer in membranes. Dialysis and electrodialysis. Reverse osmosis. Microfiltration and ultrafiltration. Gas permeation. Pervaporation.

Lectures (M): The theoretical background of each subject will be provided, pointing out the most relevant aspects. This information must be complemented with the specific bibliography that will be supplied at the end of each lesson.

The final lesson is dedicated to complement the formation of the students in bibliographic research, autonomy and oral presentation skills. In this way, students will carry out a theoretical work about membrane separations, as an example of an advanced separation process. This work involves defining the following aspects, being each of the members of the group responsible for one of them:

- Definition, historical development and contemporary equipment.

- Design methodology.

- Current and future applications.



Practical classes (GA): Various exercises related to each topic are done. During the course, each student will have to present the results for an exercise.



Seminars (S): Students will have to solve in class several problems related to the topics learnt during the course, in order to improve the acquired knowledge. These problems will be developed in working groups of three students. Since these lessons are conducted as practical workshops, attendance is required (at least 80 %, with a legitimated reason), in order to take the corresponding grades into account for the final mark.



Computer sessions (GO): A general problem of a separation process will be solved, using the software Excel (or similar). The needed information for solving the general design problem and its subsequent development in a spreadsheet will be developed. Since these lessons are conducted as practical workshops, attendance is required (at least 80 %, with a legitimated reason), in order to take the corresponding grades into account for the final mark. This case-study will be developed in working groups of three students, being each of them responsible for each of the stages that make up the whole process:

- Presentation of the main sheet (proposal, diagram and summary of the solution) and mass and energy balances.

- Calculation of the contact height or length.

- Calculation of the section and optimization of the process by minimizing the volume of the contactor.

Continuous assessment:



Midterms (2) and final exam: 65% (40 % first mid-term, 25 % second mid-term). The exams are composed of theoretical and practical parts (exercises).

Individual presentation of an exercise (blackboard) (results and communication skills): 5 %.

Problems resolution in groups (at class) (attendance, resolution and report): 10 %.

Computer aided design problem in groups (attendance, resolution and report): 10 % (6 % team mark, 4 % individual mark).

Theoretical work and oral presentation about membrane separations in groups: 10 % (5 % team mark, 5 % individual mark).



A minimum score of 4 in the exams is required for counting the rest of tasks required for the final grade. A final exam and two midterms (lessons 1-5 (1th of April) and lessons 6-8 (13th of May)) will be carried out. Passing the midterms will involve not having to do the final exam but both the theoretical and problems parts must be passed.



Final assessment:



The final assessment consists of the following tasks to be fulfilled in the examination day, which will account for the 100 % of the grade:

- Theoretical and problems exam (65 %)

- Theoretical questions about membrane separations (12.5 %)

- Solving a practical case using the Excel software (12.5 %)

- An oral presentation of the developed Excel program, explaining the performed calculations (10 %).



A minimum score of 4 in the theoretical and problems exams is required for counting the rest of tasks required for the final grade.



If any students cannot carry out the assessment in the terms described above due to sanitary conditions, they will have to follow the assessment guidelines issued by the Rectorate at the time of sitting the exam.



Requesting the final assessment system:





Students that would like to be assessed by means of the final assessment system, regardless their participation in the continuous assessment, will have to present a written notification that is going to be available in e-gela to the corresponding teacher before week 9 of the second term (week 24). Overdue notifications or notifications by other means will not be accepted. (Art. 8.3 Text approved in the Degree Committee of May 16, 2019)





Renunciation:

Both in the case of continuous and final assessment, since the weight of the final exam of the subject "Separation Processes" is greater than 40% of the subject's grade, it will be sufficient not to go in for that final exam so that the final grade of the subject is << not presented >>. (Art. 12.2 Text approved in the Degree Committee of May 16, 2019 and applicable in 2019/20)

EGELA

Basic bibliography

Coulson, J.M. Richardson, J.F. "Ingeniería Química". Ed. Reverté, Barcelona (10979-84).

Henley, e.J., Seader, J.D. "Operaciones de separación por etapas de equilibrio en Ingeniería Química". Ed. Reverté, Barcelona (1988).

King, C.J. "Procesos de separación", Ed. Reverté, Barcelona (1980).

Seader, J.D., Henley, E.J. "Separation Process Principles". Ed. John Wiley, Nueva York (1998).

Treybal, R.E. "Operaciones con transferencia de masa" H.A.S.A., Buenos Aires (1970).

Blumberg, R., "Liquid-Liquid Extraction", Ed. Academic Press, London (1988).

Haselden, G.G., y cols. "Distillation &Absorption". Ed. Hemisfere Publishing, Nueva York (1991).

Wallas S.M. "Phase equilibria in Chemical Engineering". Butterworth Publishers, Stoneham (1985).

In-depth bibliography

Kirk-Othermer Encyclopedia ofChemical Technology, 38 Ed. John Wiley (1978-84).
Perry, R.H. y cols. "Manual del Ingeniero Químico" 68 Ed. Ed. McGraw Hill, Mexico(1993).
Rouseau, R.W. "Handbook of Separation Process Technology". Ed. John Wiley, Nueva York (1987).
Reid, R.C. y cools. "The properties of gases and liquids". Ed. McGraw Hill, Nueva York (1987).

Journals

Separation and Purification Methods, ISSN-0360-2540, editado por Taylor & Francis inc.
Separation and purification reviews, ISSN-1542-2119. editado por Taylor & Francis inc.
Separation Science and Technology, ISSN-0149-6395, editada por Taylor & Francis inc.