Course overview
This course serves covers the principles and design of large-scale diffusional separation processes in equilibrium-stage and processes mass transfer continuous-contact operations. Throughout emphasis is placed on developing quantitative problem solving skills that will be essential to practicing graduates. Separation processes covered include distillation (including flash, binary column and multicomponent column), Gas absorption/stripping, Liquid-liquid extraction, washing and leaching, Membrane separation processes, and Sorption processes (including adsorption, ion exchange, and chromatography). Separation processes are a core part of global chemical engineering, making up a large proportion of capital investment in plants, and are vital to economically produce useful and safe products.
Course learning outcomes
- Understand the principles for designing selected separation units including distillation columns, gas aborption columns, extraction processes, washing and leaching processes, membrane processes and adorption columns.
- Understand the fundamental principles involved in these separation processes based on equilibrium and mass transfer processes
- Perform analysis and size separation processes using concepts including mass and energy balance, thermodynamics, heat and mass transfer, fluid mechanics, and phase equilibria
- Demonstrate skills in assessment of separation unit performance and optimisation