Mixing

Liquid A

Separation Opposite of mixing Also taught as Unit Operations or Mass Transfer Operations
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Why study separation? A typical chemical plant involves several separation operations

Undesirable impurities removed from the raw material before reaction Separation of product from unreacted feed for recycling Further purification of product(s) to meet the customer specification

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Manufacture of Formaldehyde from Methanol

S Farooq/Advanced Separation Processes- Introduction

Penicillin Production (Biotechnology)

S Farooq/Advanced Separation Processes- Introduction

Environmental Protection VOC removal H2S removal

S Farooq/Advanced Separation Processes- Introduction

 50-90% of the capital invested in a chemical plant goes to separation equipment Separation is critically important in new areas that are gaining increasing importance, such as biotechnology and environmental protection, etc.

A Chemical/Environmental Engineer must be familiar with the working principles of a variety of separation methods

S Farooq/Advanced Separation Processes- Introduction

Classification of Separation Processes

S Farooq/Advanced Separation Processes- Introduction

Choice of Technology - Function of its Maturity

S Farooq/Advanced Separation Processes- Introduction

Separation Cost

S Farooq/Advanced Separation Processes- Introduction

Process integration for cost optimization

5%

Process A 50%

95%

5%

Process A

Process B

95%

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Diffusional Separation Processes Direct contact: at least two phases Gas-liquid: absorption Vapour-liquid: distillation Liquid-liquid: extraction Gas-Solid: adsorption Liquid-Solid: leaching, adsorption Two phases separated by a membrane Separation takes place through interphase mass transfer Interphase mass transfer is affected by Phase equilibrium Molecular diffusion Mixing Convection

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Batch separation of a salt mixture: Example of phase equilibrium and diffusion Immiscible liquids A & B S1 is a salt highly soluble in A but less soluble in B S2 is another salt insoluble in A but soluble in B B contains both S1 & S2 S1 is separated from S2 by contacting the solution with A without any mixing

A B + dissolved S1, S2

Given are: Equilibrium distribution of S1 between A and B linear: cA= 3cB, where cA and cB denotes the concentrations of S1 in A and B. Starting concentrations of S1 and S2 in B are 3 moles/cc and 5 moles/cc, respectively. Volumes of A and B are 20 cc and 50 cc, respectively.
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1. How will S1 transfer from B to A? Draw qualitative concentration profiles in the two liquid layers as a function of time. 2. When will the transfer end? 3. Maximum possible recovery? 4. How long will it take? 5. Separation attained after 5 minutes?

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Solution 1. Concentration profile Interface

Conc. of S1 A B + dissolved S1, S2

Thickness Interface always at equilibrium S1 will diffuse from the bulk to the interface and from the interface to the bulk of A 2. Concentration of S1 in the two phases will eventually come to equilibrium and there will be no more transfer
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3. Maximum possible separation S2 is insoluble in A Initial amount of S1 in B = Amount of S1 in B + Amount of S1 in A 50 x 3 = (50 x cB) + (20 x cA) At equilibrium: cA= 3cB Hence, at equilibrium: cA = 4.091 moles/cc % recovery = (20 x 4.091)/(50 x 3) = 54.54 Can you increase the recovery?

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4. How can we find the time to reach equilibrium? 5. Separation attained after 5 minutes? Quantify the diffusion process How can we reach equilibrium faster? By mixing the two phases using a stirrer Phase equilibrium Thermodynamic property Available in the form of phase diagram or distribution coefficient Gives theoretically possible maximum limit of separation Does not give the time meeded to reach equilibrium Cannot give intermediate concentration

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How can we make the process continuous? A B+S1(less)+S2 A+S1 B+S1+S2

What are the effects of making the process continuous? Finite contact time Equilibrium may not be reached in spite of mixing What are the problems of long contact time in a continuous process?

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Model and Parameters Dispersion Coefficient Phase Equilibrium Convection 1. Process Parameters 2. Cause-effect Relationship

Target Separation

Design of a Diffusional Separation Process

Laws of diffusion Diffusivity

Empirical/Analytical Correlation

Lumped resistance model Mass Transfer Coefficient

Theory or Correlation

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Review of Basic Concepts

Lectures 1-4 1. Molecular Diffusion 2. Estimation of Diffusion Coefficients 3. Diffusion in Porous Media 4. Forced Convection and Diffusion 5. Mass Transfer Coefficient and Correlations 6. Application of Mass Transfer Coefficient in Process Design 7. Axial Dispersion 8. Discussion on Assignment 1

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