Learning objectives
Knowledge: The main objective of the course is to provide students with
the general criteria useful for an industrial chemical process planning and
with the fundamental concepts that must be taken into account in
designing a plant. To this aim, some industrial chemical processes are
described and analyzed in terms of thermodynamic and kinetic aspects
and are also highlighted the most important technology. Problems
associated with the cost, sustainability and safety of an industrial process
are also discussed.
Applying knowledge and understanding: students will acquire the ability
to analyze thermodynamically and kinetically an industrial process,
highlighting the most important aspects and technological solutions.
They will be able to critically evaluate the environmental and economical
sustainaibility of an industrial process. They will be able to independently evaluate
which is the best tecnological solution to produce a specific industrial product.
They also will be able to comunicate their knowledge in a formally correct language.
Prerequisites
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Course unit content
Elements of thermodynamics and kinetics: finding the right operating
conditions (pressure, temperature, contact time) in conducting a
chemical reaction in some examples of industrial processes. Concepts of
yield, conversion and selectivity. Parallel and consecutive reactions. Mass
and energy balances applied to chemical industry. Examples of recycling,
by-pass and purge. Selection and design of a reactor in continuous or
discontinuous operation mode. Multiphase reactions. Use of
homogeneous and heterogeneous catalysts in industrial field (examples
from petroleum industry). From laboratory to industry: problems
associated with the scale-up. Importance of availability of raw materials,
sustainability and safety of a chemical plant. Considerations on the
overall costs (fixed and variable) of a process (raw materials, production,separation, purification products, use and/or disposal of by-products,
equipment depreciation, personnel costs, etc..).
The aspects described so far will be illustrated with industrial processes
listed below:
-Liquefaction of gases. Separation of air gases.
-Hydrogen and syngas.
-Methanol industrial production
-Fischer-Tropsch Process
-Nitrogen and nitrogen compounds: ammonia, hydrazine, nitric acid.
-Sulfur and sulfur compounds: sulfuric acid. Claus process.
-Chloro-alkali industry: chlorine and sodium hydroxide, hydrochloric acid,
sodium carbonate.
-Acetylene.
-Industrial Gases.
Full programme
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Bibliography
1) "Chimica Inorganica Industriale" Carlo Botteghi (Piccin)
2) "An Introduction to Industrial Chemistry" C. A. Heaton
3) "Organic Chemistry: Principles and Industrial Practice" Mark M. Green,
Harold A. Wittcoff
4) "Principi della Chimica Industriale" Vol. I e II G. Natta, L. Pasquon
Teaching methods
The course is composed of 48 hours of lessons, during which students
are guided to the understanding of the basic principles of Industrial
Chemistry. During the lessons the general problems associated with the
conduction of a chemical reaction on industrial scale will be discussed .
The theoretical concepts will be exemplified with some industrial
processes of great importance.
The slides used will be uploaded weekly on the Elly platform.
Additional material is also available on Elly. To download the slides you need
to subscribe to the online course. Slides are considered an integral part of the teaching material.
It reminds non-attending students to check the available teaching material and
the guidelines provided by the teacher through the Elly platform.
The teacher is available by appointment (e-mail) for explanations.
Assessment methods and criteria
Knowledge and understanding of the concepts are verified by a written test and an oral examination. Students who have passed the written test can be admitted to the oral examination.
The student must demonstrate:
1) to understand the industrial chemical processes in all their aspects.
2) to be able to compare and discuss the processes individually and in a critical way: for example, compare a process dated with a more innovative.
3) to use a proper language to describe the processes.
4) to be able to find connections among contents of other courses: for example to explain in terms of thermodynamic and kinetic reaction of an industrial process using the skills acquired in the courses of General and Inorganic Chemistry and Physical Chemistry I.
The written exam consists of 6-8 questions. The duration of the written test is 3 hours. The written exam is rated at 0-30.
Laude is given in the case of achieving the maximum score on each item.
Written proof correction is made within two days and the result is communicated via email from the ESSE3 platform.
Always by email we will decide the day of the oral examination in case of successful written test.
The oral test consists of a discussion of possible inaccuracies found in the written test and a further in-depth study on the core aspects of the course. Knowledge of the topic aspects will be verified as well as the ability to argue critically and the ability to connect the different parts of the course. The synthesis, the use of proper technical language and communication skills will be evaluated positively.
The score of the oral test is immediately communicated and the final score will be the average with the written examination.
Please note that online registration is mandatory both in the case of written test and in the case of oral examination.
Other information
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