Separation Process Essentials

This book provides an interactive approach for students to learn the main separation processes using material and energy balances with equilibrium relationships, while referring readers to other more complete works when needed. Membrane separations are included as an example of non-equilibrium processes.

Dr. Alan M. Lane is Professor Emeritus of Chemical and Biological Engineering at The University of Alabama. He has worked for Union Carbide Corporation (polymerization processes, 1984-1986), Battelle's Pacific Northwest Laboratories (nuclear waste treatment, 1977-1979) and Pacific Northwest Testing Laboratories (ASTM testing, summers 1968-1976). He has been a visiting scholar at Boise Cascade Corp. (dioxin from pulp bleaching, 1990), Qingdao Institute of Chemical Technology (chemical reactor modeling, 1993), the University of Wales (magnetic ink characterization, 1995), and Argonne National Laboratory (fuel processing to make hydrogen, 1999). Lane earned BS degrees in both Chemistry and Chemical Engineering from the University of Washington (Seattle) in 1977. He obtained a PhD degree in Chemical Engineering from the University of Massachusetts (Amherst) in 1984. His academic research projects have covered a broad spectrum of chemical reaction engineering, especially heterogeneous catalysis: chemical reactions during metal casting, dioxin formation during waste incineration, selective synthesis gas reactions, green manufacturing, diffusion in porous media, hydrogen production for fuel cells, and fuel cell electrode reactions. He also studied the complex rheology of magnetic inks for information storage on tape as part of the MINT Center. His teaching interests are focused in chemical reaction engineering and separation processes.

Part I Introduction. Introduction to Separation Processes. A Look Inside Your Chemical Engineering Toolbox. Part II Distillation. Single-Stage Distillation: Material Balances. Single-Stage Distillation: Energy Balances. Multi-Stage Distillation. Mathematical Analysis of Distillation Columns. Graphical Design of Distillation Columns. Energy Balances for Distillation Columns. Distillation: Variations on a Theme. Multicomponent Distillation. Distillation of Non-Ideal Systems. Part III Absorption and Stripping. Single-Stage Absorption and Stripping. Mathematical Analysis of Absorption/Stripping Columns. Graphical Design of Absorption/Stripping Columns. Multicomponent and Adiabatic Absorption Columns. Column Design. Part IV Solvent Extraction. Single-Stage Solvent Extraction. Mathematical Analysis of Solvent Extraction Columns. Graphical Design of Solvent Extraction Columns. Part V Membranes. Membrane Separations.