CHE 332

W1- CHEMICAL PROCESSES

Engr. Concordia C. Bacalso, BS Che, M. Engg (Educ)

Outline
1. Chemical processes
2. Systems
3. Reaction types
4. Factors affecting chemical reactions
5. Equipment
6. Factors affecting chemical processing
7. Information required for chemical processing
8. Chemical processes
9. Examples of unit processes
CHEMICAL PROCESS
• The chemical process is a combination of unit process and unit
operation
• Also known as chemical conversions
Introduction : CHEMICAL PROCESSES

Chemical processes usually have three interrelated steps:

• 1. Transfer of reactants to the reaction zone.
• 2. Chemical reactions involving various unit
processes(chemical conversions).
• 3. Separation of the products from the reaction zone using
various unit operations.

ENGR. CONCORDIA C. BACALSO, M. Engg, BS Ch E

Source: https://library.citadel.edu/c.php?g=43116&p=3815022
CHEMICAL PROCESS: SYSTEMS
• Homogeneous system :reactants are in same phase liquid,
gases or solids
• Heterogeneous systems include two or more phases; gas-
liquid, gas-solid, liquid- solid.
CHEMICAL PROCESSES: REACTION TYPES
• Various type reactions involve may be
• reversible
• Irreversible
• And further classified into
• Endothermic or Exothermic
• Catalytic or Non-catalytic.
Source: https://library.citadel.edu/c.php?g=43116&p=3815022

ENGR. CONCORDIA C. BACALSO, M. Engg, BS Ch E

CHEMICAL PROCESSES: FACTORS THAT AFFECT
CHEMICAL REACTION

• Temperature
• pressure
• Reactants composition
• catalyst activity
• rate of heat and mass transfer.

ENGR. CONCORDIA C. BACALSO, M. Engg, BS Ch E

CHEMICAL PROCESSES: EQUIPMENT
• The reaction may be carried out in batch, semi batch or
continuous reactor.
• Reactors may be batch, plug flow (PFR), CSTR. It may be
isothermal or adiabatic.
• Catalytic reactors may be packed bed, moving bed or
fluidized bed.

ENGR. CONCORDIA C. BACALSO, M. Engg, BS Ch E

BATCH REACTOR
PLUG FLOW REACTOR
CONTINUOUS STIRRED TANK REACTOR (MIXED FLOW
REACTOR)
SEMI BATCH REACTOR
• It is a modification of batch reactor.
• It is also a closed vessel which
contains agitator for the purpose of
mixing the reactants thoroughly.
• The difference is that one of the
reactants is charged completely
initially in the reactor and the
other reactant is charged
continuously in the reactor as the
time progresses.
MOST IMPORTANT FACTORS FOR CHEMICAL
PROCESSES
• Basic Data
• physical and chemical properties of reactants and products.
• Yield
• that fraction of raw material recovered as the main product.
• Conversion
• that fraction of material changed to another desired product.
• Kinetics
• the study of reaction rates

ENGR. CONCORDIA C. BACALSO, M. Engg, BS Ch E

Information Requirements Important for the
Development of a Commercial Process
1. Material and Energy Balances, and Process Flow and
Piping and Instruments Diagrams (PFD and P& ID).
2. Raw Material and Energy Consumption per Ton of
Product.
3. Batch vs. Continuous
4. Chemical Process Selection: design and operation, pilot
plant data, equipment required, material of construction.
.
Information Requirements Important for the
Development of a Commercial Process, cont.
5. Chemical Process Control and Instrumentation.
6. Chemical Process Economics: Material and Energy Cost,
Labor, Overall Cost of Production
7. Market Evaluation: Purity and Uniformity of Products for
Further Processing.
8. Plant Location.

ENGR. CONCORDIA C. BACALSO, M. Engg, BS Ch E

Information Requirements Important for the
Development of a Commercial Process, cont.
9. Environment Protection, Health, Safety and Hazardous
Material
10. Construction, Building and Commissioning
11. Management for Productivity and Creativity, Training of
Plant Personals
12. Research and Development (R&D)
CHEMICAL PROCESSES: UNIT
PROCESSES
UNIT PROCESSES
Unit process involves principle chemical conversions leading to
synthesis of various useful products and provide basic information
regarding:
1. the reaction temperature and pressure
2. the extent of chemical conversions
3. the yield of product of reaction
4. the nature of reaction whether endothermic or exothermic
5. the type of catalyst
Some Examples of Unit Processes
• Nitration • Hydrogenation
• Sulfonation • Polymerization
• Halogenation • Oxidation
• Alkylation • Reduction
• Hydrolysis
REFERENCE
• Shreve’s Chemical Process
Industries
• https://chemicalengineeringworl
d.com/types-of-reactors/

ENGR. CONCORDIA C. BACALSO, M. Engg, BS Ch E