INDUSTRIAL CHEMESTRY AND TECHNOLOGIES
Academic Year 2023/2024 - Teacher:
Luigi GURRERI
Expected Learning Outcomes
The course provides students with the fundamental concepts for understanding industrial chemical processes. Starting from the basic concepts of thermodynamics and kinetics of reactions, particular attention is paid to catalytic processes. At the end of the course, the student will have acquired the skills to make a critical analysis of the main industrial chemical processes and to evaluate the effects of changing operating parameters on them.
Course Structure
Face-to-face lessons in the classroom with remote mode available for foreign students waiting for a VISA.
The theoretical lessons will be integrated with practical examples and exercises, through which applicative aspects and quantitative methodologies are developed.
Required Prerequisites
General chemistry (chemical equilibria, thermodynamics, kinetics, organic chemistry)
Attendance of Lessons
Mandatory for 70% of hours (as required by the “Regolamento didattico”)
Detailed Course Content
Introduction to industrial chemistry, products and raw materials. Thermodynamics of chemical reactions. Kinetics of chemical reactions. Catalysis: main characteristics, steps of heterogeneous catalysis, notes on homogeneous catalysis. Industrial chemical processes for petroleum refining. Production of synthesis gas and products derived from it. Production of light alkenes. Industrial chemistry of inorganic products (sulphur, nitrogen and chlorine). Industrial production of polymers. Fine chemicals. Biotechnology: thermodynamics, kinetics, and bioprocesses.
Textbook Information
1. Moulijn J.A., Makkee M., Van Diepen A.E., Chemical Process Technology, Wiley, 2013.
2. Lecture notes (ppt)
For further information, you can consult:
A. Principi della chimica industriale vol. 1 and 2 (Natta, Pasquon, Centola) http://www.giulionatta.it/pdf/pubblicazioni/00537.pdf, http://www.giulionatta.it/pdf/pubblicazioni/00615.pdf
B. Satterfield, Heterogeneous catalysis in practice, McGraw-Hill.
C. Jens Hagen, Industrial Catalysis – A Practical Approach, Wiley-VCH 2015
D. Giavarini, Guida allo studio dei Processi di Raffinazione e Petrolchimici, Edizioni Efesto
E. K. Weissermel, H.-J. Arpe, Industrial Organic Chemistry, VCH
Course Planning
| | Subjects | Text References |
|---|
| 1 | Introduction - The chemical industry | 1,2 |
| 2 | Thermodynamics | 2 |
| 3 | Kinetics | 2 |
| 4 | Catalysis | 2 |
| 5 | Processes in the oil refinery | 1,2 |
| 6 | Light alkenes | 1,2 |
| 7 | Synthesis gas and derived products | 1,2 |
| 8 | Inorganic chemicals | 1,2 |
| 9 | Polymers | 1,2 |
| 10 | Chemical reactors | 2 |
| 11 | Biotechnology | 2 |
Learning Assessment
Learning Assessment Procedures
Verification of learning will be carried out through written tests (ongoing test and final test) and oral exam.
Examples of frequently asked questions and / or exercises
Classify the products of the chemical industry. Describe the effects of operating parameters on the thermodynamics of reactions. Describe the approach to determining the reaction order. Properties of catalysts. Phases of heterogeneous catalysis. Description via block diagram of a crude oil distillation system. Description of the catalytic cracking process. Description of the main reactions in the production of synthesis gas via steam reforming of natural gas. Describe the ammonia synthesis process also using block diagrams. Describe the operating principle of an electrolytic cell for the production of chlorine. Describe the process of synthesis of nitric acid. Illustrate the industrial process for the production of PVC. Kinetics of uninhibited and inhibited enzymatic reactions. Kinetics of uninhibited and inhibited cell growth. Material balances in a perfectly mixed reactor.
