OVERVIEW

The module 2 of the teaching provides the knowledge and analysis tools for the design and selection of chemical reactors. The behaviour of non-ideal reactors will be analyzed by studying the effects of the distribution of residence times on the performance of the reactors. Basic knowledge will be provided for the application of reactor engineering to the study and analysis of wastewater purification plants and of plants with both conventional (activated sludge, percolator bed) and emerging (membrane bioreactor).

AIMS AND CONTENT

LEARNING OUTCOMES

The teaching aims to deepen the knowledge on unit operations (physical separation) and chemical reactors by providing the basic tools for their design and selection for applications of interest to the chemical process industry and the environment. The basic knowledge acquired in the teaching of the Degree Course in Chemistry and Chemical Technologies will be used to formulate the design equations of the main physical separation operations and the most common reactors (ideal and non-ideal) of the chemical process industry. Furthermore, a solid theoretical-practical basis will be provided to address the resolution of pollution problems (industrial and otherwise) in the water sector

AIMS AND LEARNING OUTCOMES

The aim of this teching is to provide knowledge of kinetics and its application in chemical reactors. In particular, the knowledge should be deepened:

- Kinetics of homogeneous, heterogeneous, catalytic (liquid-solid) and biological reactions;

- chemical reactors;

- Plant operation and reactors for wastewater treatment.

At the end of the course, students will be able to:

- determine the design equations for the rough sizing of chemical reactors (homogeneous, heterogeneous, ideal and non-ideal);

- determine the design equations for the rough dimensioning of unit operations typical for the water sector (sedimentation, flotation, conventional activated sludge plants and with biological membrane reactors);

- acquire the ability to express themselves using appropriate technical terminology.

PREREQUISITES

Basic knowledge of Physical Chemistry, Mathematics, and Transport Phenomena is required.

TEACHING METHODS

Module II of the course takes the form of 40 hours of lectures (equivalent to 5 CFU).

The teaching also includes lessons conducted through discussions with the students. To stimulate discussion with students and their active participation, real or hypothetical scenarios, videos and the use of clickers are proposed, lasting approximately 3 hours. Copies of the slides presented in class will be available on AulaWeb and can be used as a basis for the study. The slides can only serve as a reference for the study of the topics covered, which must be accompanied by class participation and study of the proposed texts.

For disabled students or those with DSA, the examination methods comply with the university regulations for conducting examinations (https://unige.it/disabilita-dsa).

SYLLABUS/CONTENT

Part 2 (T, 3CUF)

- Recall to ideal discontinuous reactors, ideal continuous plug flow reactors (PFR), ideal continuous stirred reactors (CSTR);

- Non-ideal fluid motion: distribution of residence times;

- Non-ideal flow models: dispersion model, series reactor model, multi-parameter models;

- Mixing of fluids;

- Fluid-particle reactions: non-reacting core model for particles of invariable size, reaction rate for spherical particles of decreasing size;

- Fluid-fluid reactions: investigation of the kinetic expression. Reactions in suspension;

- Reactions catalyzed by solids;

- Catalytic reactors.

Part 3 (T, 2CUF)

- Elements of water resource management, introduction to wastewater treatment, definitions, parameters and general information on integrated water purification processes;

- References to sedimentation, flotation and filtration;

- Biological treatments: definitions and cellular metabolism, growth curve, microbial growth kinetics, suspended biomass and bound biomass treatment processes. Aeration. Material balances for the activated sludge process, hydraulic retention time and sludge age. Notes on biological nitrogen removal. Conventional membrane and biofilm bioreactors. Notes on process calculation for water treatment.

RECOMMENDED READING/BIBLIOGRAPHY

Textbook

W.L. McCabe, J.C. Smith, and P. Harriot, Unit Operations of Chemical Engineering, 7th edition, McGraw-Hill (2005).

H.S. Fogler, Elements of Chemical reaction Engineering, 4th edition, Prentice Hall (2006).

R.E. Treybal, Mass-Transfer Operations, 3-rd edition, McGraw-Hill Book Co.(1980) (International Edition, softcover) (alternativo al McCabe)

Metcalf & Eddy, Wastewater Engineering: Treatment and Reuse, 4th Edition, McGraw-Hill, New York (2013)

I.S. Choi, E.-M. Dombrowski, U. Wiesmann, Fundamentals of Biological Wastewater Treatment, Wiley-VCH (2006) (alternativo al Metcalf)

Reference texts:

R.B. Bird, W.E. Stewart, and E.N. Lightfoot, Transport Phenomena, 2nd edition, John Wiley (2007)

P.C. Wankat, Rate-Controlled Separations, Elsevier Applied Science (1990).

N.B.: Copies of the teaching slides are not sufficient for a good preparation for the exam, it is strongly recommended to use the textbooks and reference books.

TEACHERS AND EXAM BOARD

LESSONS

LESSONS START

The beginning of the lessons is available on easyacademy.unige.it/portalestudenti/

Class schedule

The timetable for this course is available here: Portale EasyAcademy

EXAMS

EXAM DESCRIPTION

The examination is conducted orally. During the examination, each co-teacher must ask at least one question on the part of the program for which he/she is responsible. In urgent cases and only according to special provisions expressly issued by the University of Genoa, the way in which the examinations are conducted may be changed to allow the possibility of taking the examination online. Registration must be made online and sent by email to the course instructors within 7 days before the examination date.

Online registration for the exam can be done via the website: https://servizionline.unige.it/studenti/esami/prenotazione.

For disabled students or those with DSA, examination methods are in accordance with the University's regulations for the conduct of examinations (https://unige.it/disabilita-dsa).

ASSESSMENT METHODS

The commission is composed of at least two members, of whom (at least) one is responsible of the teaching; the oral examination lasts at least 30 minutes. Using these methods, the commission is able to verify the acquisition of knowledge in the following areas:

- Kinetics of homogeneous, heterogeneous, catalytic (liquid-solid) and biological reactions;

- of chemical reactors.

If these are not achieved, the student is asked to continue learning and to request additional explanations.

FURTHER INFORMATION

Ask the professor for other information not included in the teaching schedule.