H Rehana Anjum

B.Tech 4-1
Unit-1
 Fundamentals of separation process

• In most of the chemical engineering systems, separation processes are integral part of the
entire process flow sheet.

• The separation processes those are not conventional and routine fall under this category.
Therefore, some of the equilibrium and rate governed separation processes are included this.
Some of the processes are identified as,
(i) Membrane based separation processes;
(ii) Chromatographic separation processes;
(iii) Electric field assisted separation processes;
(iv) Ion exchange processes,
(v) Crystallization...etc,
Crystallization
 Precipitation
Precipitation differs from crystallization are often an aggregate, and is usually
amorphous, has a poorly defined size and shape.
 It is convenient to classify precipitation processes based on the method used to
produce the super saturation.
1. Cooling and solvent evaporation
2. Reaction
3. Salting out
4. Anti-solvents
5. pH
6. Temperature increases
 Many substances are produced by liquid phase reactions and product solids are
separation by precipitation (eg : dyes, pigments...etc).
 Controlled Precipitation is technique of preparation of nanoparticles.
 Crystal size distribution
• Crystal size distribution is an extremely important quantity in the design and
analysis of crystallizers.
• Mixed Suspension Mixed Product Removal (MSMPR) is type of crystallizer is
applicable of CSD analysis.
 Assumption of MSMPR.
1. The particles remain uniformly distributed in the suspension
2. Feed enter, product removal and volume is contact
3. Density and size distribution , and outlet stream are same
4. Negligible breakages
5. Steady-state
• Let n(L) be the crystal size distribution function defined on the basis of the
characteristic length L of the crystals.

• The average population density n , in the size range L1 and L2 is given by

3
• The average value of density function in the size range [L1,L2] is given by ni

4
• If Qi is the flow rate of the liquor into the crystallizer, the number of crystal
entering with the feed in time dt is

Basic population balance equation for MSMPR crystallizer

 Characteristics of crystal size distribution

1. Moments of the density function

2. The weight distribution function
3. Coefficient of variation
4. Size dependent growth
5. Growth rate dispersion
6. Crystal size control
Assignment 1

Unit-1
Separation process