66970 - Fundamentals of Industrial Chemistry

Learning outcomes

At the end of the course, the student will have knowledge of the main classes of reactions and raw materials used in industrial chemical production, as well as of how these reactions are carried out from an applied perspective, developing awareness of issues related to safety and environmental compatibility. In particular, the student will be able to analyze simplified chemical process schemes, including reagent treatment, reaction, separation, and product purification, and to assess hazardous processes and processes that use flammable reaction mixtures. The laboratory complements the lectures of the institutional course.

Course contents

Prerequisites

• Knowledge of the main physical quantities and the relationships between them, as well as the main units of measurement (course unit: Physics)

• Chemical reactions in terms of mass and energy balances, homogeneous and heterogeneous chemical equilibria, the spontaneity of chemical reactions and their rate (course unit: General and Inorganic Chemistry with Laboratory)

• The nomenclature and structure of organic compounds; the correct way to write organic structures; the structure and reactivity of the different functional groups of organic molecules; the concepts of structural isomerism, regioisomerism, and stereoisomerism; the structure and reactivity of reactive intermediates. The risks associated with laboratory operations, the safe use of reagents and simple equipment, and the proper disposal of residues from activities (course unit: Organic Chemistry I with Laboratory)

• Explanation of the laws of thermodynamics, which deal with energy transformations, and of the fundamentals of kinetics, which investigates the rate of chemical reactions and the factors that influence it (course unit: Physical Chemistry and Physical Chemistry Laboratory)

• Understanding and application of the main analytical techniques, identification of the chemical equilibria present, and evaluation of the influence of chemical parameters on them. Knowledge and use of the main instrumental analytical techniques (course unit: Instrumental Analytical Chemistry with Laboratory)

Course Programme

Raw materials and the chemical industry connected to them: coal, natural gas, petroleum, natural substances, and waste from the food industry. Structure of the chemical industry: basic chemicals, intermediate chemicals, derivative chemicals, synthetic fine chemicals, and formulation fine chemicals. Concepts of industrial catalysis. Criteria for conducting chemical reactions: exothermic reactions in the vapour phase and liquid phase, oxidation, chlorination and hydrogenation reactions, endothermic reactions, dehydrogenation reactions, and acid-base reactions. Brief introduction to principles of economics applied to the chemical industry.

Analysis of industrial process flowsheets. Detailed examples of industrial processes. Brief overview of safety criteria in the chemical industry and the main causes of risk. Evaluation of process parameters in model reactions.

Laboratory exercises. Preparation of bulk and supported catalysts. Reactions carried out in a batch reactor: an example of a process in acid-base catalysis. Determination of the main process parameters in reactions of industrial interest with low environmental impact.

Readings/Bibliography

J.A. Moulijn, M. Makkee, A. van Diepen, Chemical Process Technology, Wiley & Sons, 2001.

K. H. Buchel, H.-H. Moretto, P. Woditsch, Industrial Inorganic Chemistry, Wiley-VCH, 2000.

A. Girelli, L. Matteoli, F. Parisi, Trattato di Chimica Industriale ed Applicata, Zanichelli, Bologna, A. Heaton(Ed.), An Introduction to Industrial Chemistry, Blackie Acad. & Prof., London ,1996.

G. Natta, I. Pasquon, P. Centola. Principi della Chimica Industriale, CLUP, Milano, 1989

Teaching methods

The course consists of lectures delivered in the classroom and is complemented by lessons and practical activities carried out both in the classroom and in the laboratory. The laboratory component includes experiments focused on the topics covered during the lectures and takes place in the teaching chemistry laboratories. Video presentations will be shown and discussions will be held with students on important topics in industrial chemistry.

After each scientific topic has been completed, a summary will be provided and discussed with the students.

Assessment methods

Assessment type: learning is assessed through a final examination aimed at verifying the acquisition of the expected knowledge and skills.

The oral examination is intended to assess the student’s understanding, critical and methodological skills, and personal reflection on the topics covered. Particular value will be placed on autonomy, command of expression, and the ability to justify and discuss the choices made.

The final examination consists of an oral examination and a report on the laboratory activities carried out.

Attendance at laboratory activities is compulsory.

Assessment methods: the oral examination consists of an interview on the course contents. The outcome of this examination accounts for 90% of the final grade.

The report on the laboratory activities is assessed on the basis of the accuracy of the description of the experimental methodology applied and the correctness of the processing and discussion of the results obtained. Each working group is normally required to submit the report at least one week before the oral examination taken by one member of that working group. The outcome accounts for 10% of the final grade.

The final grade, expressed out of thirty, is calculated as the weighted average of the two components.

Teaching tools

The course is delivered through lectures and practical activities carried out in the classroom and in the laboratory. These activities also make use of teaching aids such as PowerPoint presentations and video projection. Handouts are provided for the experiments conducted in the laboratory. Laboratory activities take place in the teaching chemistry laboratories. All teaching material presented is accessible to students through the teaching platform at https://virtuale.unibo.it/.

Office hours

See the website of Nikolaos Dimitratos