AIMS AND CONTENT

AIMS AND LEARNING OUTCOMES

The course aims to describe and show through lab scale experiments some of the unit operations used in the main processes of chemical industry. Students will also acquire the fundamentals to correctly design experiments and to elaborate a critical evaluation of the results.

At the end of the course, it is expected that students will be able to:

• write laboratory reports on the practical experiences performed during the course;

• design, set up and supervise easy experiments using lab-scale systems;

• obtain significant measures using the most appropriate technique for the evaluation of the experiments;

• understand and contextualize experimental data;
• apply safety and good laboratory practices.

TEACHING METHODS

The course consists of practical experiences in the laboratories where students can participate in the proposed experimental activities (32 h) and lectures held in classroom, with the aid of slides, aimed at preparing the calculation tools for the proper performing of the laboratory experiments (18 hours). Students will work on team and individually, in order to acquire transversal skills in terms of independent judgment and cooperation.

As part of the innovation learning project adopted by the Bachelor Degree Course in Chemical and Process Engineering, novel tools will be used for the active learning of students. The goal is to increase students' skills via interactive, experience-based, learning methodologies (e-learning, teamwork, etc.) for enhanced student participation, using an advanced level of communication that makes the student more aware and autonomous.

SYLLABUS/CONTENT

The syllabus of the course consists of:

• introduction to the good laboratory practices and safety in chemical laboratories;
• fundamentals of statistics for the elaboration, representation and interpretation of experimental data and theoretical fundamentals about the main measuring instruments;
• description of the laboratory experiences that will be performed with references to the theory for the preparation of experimental tests (sieving, image analysis, distillation columns, definition of hypotheses, preliminary data collection and setting of mass and energy balance);
• experiments on sieving and image analysis for particle size distribution determination;
• experiments on the application of mass balance in stirred tank and related analytical measurements;
• experiments on the application of energy balance for the heating of vessel;
• start-up and management of a lab-scale distillation column. 

RECOMMENDED READING/BIBLIOGRAPHY

All the material shown during the lessons will be provided to the students. In general, the notes of each lesson and the slides are sufficient to study and to have success in examinations.

For further information and insights, the following texts are suggested:

• Green Don W., Perry Robert H. Perry’s chemical engineers’ handbook. McGraw Hill (2007).
• Stewart, Warren E., Edwin N. Lightfoot, and R. Byron Bird. Transport phenomena. J. Wiley, 1962.
• Mc Cabe, Warren L., Julian C. Smith, and Peter Harriott. Unit operation of chemical engineering. McGraw-Hill (2018).
• Foust, A. S., Wenzel, L. A., Clump, C. W., Maus, L., & Andersen, L. B. I principi delle operazioni unitarie. Casa editrice Ambrosiana (1967). 

TEACHERS AND EXAM BOARD

Exam Board

PAOLA COSTAMAGNA (President)

MARGHERITA PETTINATO (President)

ALESSANDRO ALBERTO CASAZZA

LESSONS

LESSONS START

Lessons will start on first semester, according to the Polytechnique School’s program.

EXAMS

EXAM DESCRIPTION

The exam consists in the production of periodical laboratory reports on all the experiences carried out in the laboratory and in an interview on the contents of the reported experiences.

There will be 3 exam dates during the winter session and 4 exam dates during the summer session.

ASSESSMENT METHODS

Student’s preparation will be ascertained by a written and oral exam. The former, will be useful to evaluate the student’s skill in writing scientific report, while the second will give information on the student knowledge of the topics of the course. Moreover, the quality in the exposition of the topics, the correct use of technical terminology and critical reasoning ability will be also evaluated.

Exam schedule

FURTHER INFORMATION

During the practical laboratory lessons, students will be divided into groups. The frequency is strongly recommended and will be verified for the laboratory activities ( 70% of laboratory exercitations is needed to pass the exam).  

For specific needs, students are invited to contact the teacher before starting the course. Working students and students with SLD certification, disability or other special educational needs are advised to contact the teacher at the beginning of the course to agree on teaching and examination methods that, in compliance with the teaching objectives, take into account individual learning modalities.

During practical experiences into the laboratories, student must have their own cotton lab coat, while the personal protective equipment will be provided by the laboratory.