Daniel David V.

Harris CHE 42 - A

BS ChE – 3

Part A:

1. What are the chemical properties that are exploited by engineers in order to apply
distillation to separate the components in a feed mixture?

When distillation is chosen as the separation method, the engineers would

have noticed that the liquid mixture contains liquids with a difference in
their boiling points which engineers can exploit. As it is a separation
process, and no chemical reaction takes place for distillation, engineers
exploit a physical property in their boiling points/volatilities rather than a
chemical property. Boiling point represents the temperature at which a
substance will vaporize, and engineers use this to determine which
components in the liquid mixture, will separate out as a vapor and liquid.

2. In a distillation column, what should be the temperature profile of the whole

column? Should the top of the column have a higher temperature as compared to
the bottom part, or is it the other way around? Why do you think this should be
the case?

In a distillation column, the bottom of the column should have a higher

temperature compared to that of the top of the column. This is done
because as the mixture is fed into the column, it travels downwards
through the employment of plates in the column. When it reaches the
bottom of the column and is heated at a higher temperature, the more
volatile component of the mixture will vaporize first as it has a lower
boiling point. Once part of the mixture vaporizes as a gas, it will rise
upwards in the column, containing more of the volatile component,
leaving behind the less volatile component as a liquid in the bottom. As the
vapor rises, it will interact with the feed liquid mixture still passing down
the column due to a temperature gradient being present. This interaction
will condense some of the less volatile components in the rising vapor back
into a liquid. Once, the rising vapor reaches the top of the column at a
lower temperature, it will comprise mostly of the volatile component in
the mixture, leaving a purer liquid of that component when condensed.

3. What is the purpose of adding reflux at the top and bottom part of the distillation
column?

The purpose of adding reflux to a distillation column is for a more efficient

distillation process to occur. Reflux promotes a higher yield of the desired
products by allowing the liquid mixture to pass through the component,
making the rising vapor and falling liquid interact more, more than just
once in the column. The drawn liquid at the bottom still containing some
of the more volatile component is passed back into the bottom of the
distillation column, entering a reboiler which will vaporize the remaining
volatile component as gas, continuing the distillation process. The same is
done at the top of the distillation column as the overhead product
containing a purer volatile mixture, but still some of the less volatile
component, is passed back through the top of the column, to allow for
condensation to occur for the liquid to flow downwards.

4. What are the chemical properties that are exploited by engineers in order to apply
liquid-liquid extraction as a separation process?
 When liquid-liquid extraction is selected, the engineers have decided the
exploit the difference in the solubility and density properties of the liquids
in the mixture. The engineers will obtain their desired product from the
mixture by putting the mixture in an extraction unit with a substance with
a different density to the mixture, known as the solvent. A chemical
reaction does need to take place here, wherein the solvent should be a
substance that more readily mixes or combines with the component of the
liquid mixture. Thus, the engineers are trying to separate the component
known as a “contaminant” from their desired product. This is done by
exploiting the contaminants solubility property in different liquids. Thus,
aside from the solvent used in the separation process having a density
difference from the liquid mixture, it should also be a solvent in which the
contaminant of the liquid mixture is more inclined to combine/react with,
or is more soluble in. This allows for the contaminant to be transferred
from desired product to solvent. This occurs within the extraction unit as
the liquid mixture will either rise or fall while the solvent does the opposite
to it. During the rising and falling, they will come into contact with one
another, which is where the contaminant is exchanged.

5. Let's say you have Liquid A and Liquid B mixed together, and the goal is to transfer
component C from Liquid A to Liquid B. However, Liquid A is soluble in Liquid B. Is
liquid-liquid extraction still possible? Why or why not?

No, in this case, liquid-liquid extraction is no longer possible. This is

because the solvent, which in this case is Liquid B, should only be miscible
with the component that we want to remove from the desired product,
which is Liquid A. However, in the case presented in the question, Liquid A
is soluble in Liquid B. This means that if we were to perform liquid-liquid
extraction with the mixture of Liquid A and component C interacting with
Liquid B, component C would not be the only component being exchanged
in the extraction unit. Instead, the mixture of Liquid A and component C
would just react and dissolve in Liquid B, forming a different mixture. This
would mean that the goal of transferring component C from liquid A to
Liquid B, leaving a purer Liquid A, was not achieved. Thus, liquid-liquid
extraction should not be used.

6. Explain how reverse osmosis works based on your understanding of the concept
as presented in the video.

In the video, it was explained that reverse osmosis works by pressurizing

the lower water concentration side of the semi-permeable barrier present
in osmosis. Once enough pressure is applied to overcome the pressure
present in osmosis, the water molecules on that side are forced to go
through the semi-permeable barrier into the side where there is a higher
concentration of water molecules. The nature of the semi-permeable
barrier makes it so that only certain ions or molecules can pass through
based on size and chemical affinities. The video also explained, that in
saltwater systems, the 2 sides of the barrier will be that of a purer
freshwater side, and a reject stream containing the undesired salt ions and
other components.

7. What is the difference between reverse osmosis and osmosis? Explain briefly.

The main difference between the 2 processes is that osmosis allows for a
natural diffusion process in the system when there is a concentration
gradient between the 2 sides of a semi-permeable barrier. The water
molecules will travel from a higher concentration to that of a lower
concentration until equilibrium is obtained, adhering to the Fick’s law.
 Reverse osmosis goes against this natural occurring process by introducing
pressure on one side of the barrier. Instead of the water molecules moving
from the higher concentration side to the lower concentration side,
reverse osmosis forces the water molecules of lower concentration to go
to the side of the semi-permeable barrier with a higher concentration of
water, leaving behind its contaminants. Thus, osmosis allows for water
molecules to move along its concentration gradient, while reverse osmosis
works to go against said concentration gradient.

8. As a future chemical engineer, why do you think it is complicated to apply

separation techniques in a chemical process? You are free to express your candid
thoughts in this question; you do not need to sound technical in your answer for
this one.

I see that the process of applying separation techniques and which ones to
use can be a very complicated one, because of the reality of the world we
live in. Chemical process industries at the end of the day regardless of
dealing with chemicals and trying to make different products, it is still a
business centered around money. Thus, industries also have to think about
being cost-effective in terms of the processes they will choose to employ.
One separation technique may be a lot better than another in terms of
product yield, but at the same time, would cost a lot more money for that
separation unit to be constructed and utilized for the industry. Industries
also have to think about run time of the separation technique, as well as
how much power or energy might be expended to yield the product. There
is also the issue of what to do with the other components that will be left
behind the desired product, depending on which separation technique is
used, industries will be left with different mixture streams recovered that
weren’t of the desired product, some of which might be of no use to their
other processes. Thus, I see that chemical process industries are a
business, a very broad business, where a lot of factors come into play when
making decisions, not just simply which separation technique is the best to
obtain a desired product.

Part B:

1. There were various terminologies related to this course that have been mentioned
right away in the video. What is your attitude towards this? Are you
intimidated/interested/confused by these? Explain and elaborate in 5 - 7 sentences.

I did encounter some new terms that were mentioned in the video, especially in
the multi-stage separations section. I had good knowledge behind the principles
of distillation, absorption/stripping, and liquid-liquid extractions from previous
courses, however the concepts of the Mcthiele diagram and Murphee efficiency
were new terms related to these separation techniques which I had never heard
of before. I had a similar experience when tackling my thermodynamics class in
both the 2nd year and 3rd year, where I was introduced to familiar principles, but
with more broad topics and applications. My attitude to experiencing those
courses the same for this course, a somewhat anxious-excited feeling. I say this
because it excites me that there’s still a lot more to understand about these
principles that got me interested in continuing chemical engineering, but also
anxious that I might encounter topics which I won’t be able to truly grasp, which
may hinder my ability as a chemical engineer. Nevertheless, they were able to
catch my interest, which I believe is the most important thing when tackling new
concepts, for my interest in them, and the desire to want to understand them
more, will be what keeps me going. Knowing that I do not know yet all the
principles that come with being a chemical engineer inspires me to continue along
my path.
2. According to the video, why do you think it is necessary for a chemical engineer to
study separation processes?

Based off what I heard from the professor in the video, separation processes is a
very necessary course to undertake because, regardless of what specialization or
field we will undertake once graduating and becoming chemical engineers, it is
very likely that separation processes will be employed in the industry we join. The
2 videos I was tasked to watch today really helped me grasp the fact that we can
only create with the raw materials given to us. Most of the time, the materials we
need for our certain processes, are not available to us as a pure material, rather
they have other components present with them. I believe this is why the professor
in the 2nd video stressed the importance of separation processes and why we
should really understand their principles. It is through proper understanding of
separation processes that we will be able to effectively obtain products of the
maximum purity with maximum efficiency. Also, it is through separation processes
that we will be able to deduce which separation process is most applicable given
the condition of the mixture which we are trying to separate. Many factors come
into play with that decision, from the chemical properties of the components in
the mixture, to their toxicities or flammability. All of these factors are present in
any industry which we will choose to join once we join the working sector, which
is why separation processes is definitely a necessary course, not only to take, but
to master.

3. Rate your confidence and comprehension in mass transfer theory from 1 to 5, 1 being
the lowest (I am not familiar with the basics of mass transfer theory) and 5 being the
highest (I was able to cover mass transfer concepts in the previous ChE professional
courses). Explain why your rating is such.

My confidence and comprehension in the mass transfer theory principle and the
topics that is covers is currently at a 4. I say this because the principle is still
relatively fresh in my mind as I just finished my heat and mass transfer course,
where the mass transfer principles like that of diffusion, drying, and
absorption/stripping were our topics after midterms. With that, I believe I still
have a good foundation behind the principle and its basic topics, which will be of
use when learning even more advanced concepts related to mass transfer.
However, I can’t say that my confidence level can be at a 5 because there is still so
much I am yet to learn when it comes to mass transfer. I have learnt ever since
entering college that taking a topic once isn’t enough to say you understand the
topic to the fullest degree, and I look forward to learning what I have yet to
understand when it comes to mass transfer.