Course content

The course deals with the industrial production of fuels and chemicals from fossil and renewable feedstocks. Topics include: Norwegian oil and gas production, energy from fossil fuels. Oil refining, oil products, refinery design and selected processes (catalytic reforming and isomerization, hydrotreating and hydrocracking, catalytic cracking, treatment of heavy oils, environmental concerns, new fuels). Examples of basic, intermediate and end products from petrochemistry. Natural gas and LPG as feedstock, synthesis gas production, preparation and use of hydrogen, methanol synthesis, Fischer-Tropsch, ammonia synthesis. Production of light olefins by steam-cracking, dehydrogenation and other routes, use of light olefins. Introduction to biomass as the feedstock for biofuels and chemicals, and carbon capture and utilization (CCU) and routes to e-fuels (electrofuels).

Learning outcome

At the end of the course the students should be able to: - Describe basic chemistry, thermodynamics, kinetics, catalysis, reactor technology and process design and layout for key processes in oil refining, gas conversion and petrochemistry. - Describe the value chains from typical raw materials to key intermediates. - Be aware of issues linked with sustainability of processes and products. - Know about biomass and CO2 combined with renewable energy as alternative feedstocks. - Describe and justify the links between the basic chemical issues (the chemical reactions, heat of reaction, kinetics, catalysis) and the process and reactor design (handling of reactants and products, heat of reaction, equilibrium limitations, recirculation). - Find and understand and reproduce information of products and processes.

Learning methods and activities

The course is given as a combination of self-study, lectures, and exercises in the form of project reports including student presentations.

Compulsory assignments

• Exercises

Course content

The course is an introduction to important principles and methods of heterogeneous catalysis. Topics are:

• The importance of catalysis as a key technology in the chemical process industry, in energy conversion as well as in environmental chemistry processes.
• Definition of catalysis, elementary reactions, and catalytic sequences.
• Concepts and principles of adsorption, desorption, surface area and porosity.
• Modern theories for surfaces and surface reactions.
• Langmuir-Hinshelwood kinetics.
• Kinetic modelling, including model fitting and data treatment.
• Internal and external mass and heat transfer in catalyst particles as well as the effect of diffusion on reaction kinetics.
• Catalyst preparation.
• Multifunctional catalysis.

Learning outcome

Knowledge:

• Overview about important industrial catalytic processes and the most common catalysts.
• Know how catalysts are applied in sustainable industrial processes to reduce the energy demand and to improve selectivity to the desired products.
• Be able to identify reaction sequences and suggest reaction mechanisms for chemical reactions.
• Be familiar with methods for preparation of catalysts.
• Know how internal and external mass transfer limitations influence the kinetics of catalytic reactions.
• Understand the most common deactivation mechanisms for heterogeneous catalysts and how they influence the kinetics.
• Be aware of the criteria of good experimental practice in kinetic measurements.
• Understand Langmuir-Hinshelwood kinetic model development and data treatment.

Skills:

• Derive rate expressions for catalytic reactions based on Langmuir-Hinshelwood kinetics.
• Design catalytic experiments with control over reaction kinetics without influence of heat and mass transfer limitations.
• Apply chemisorption and kinetic data to calculate reaction rates and specific reaction rates.
• Develop kinetic models for selected chemical reactions.
• Identify and distinguish different deactivation mechanisms present in heterogeneous catalysts.
• Identify internal and external mass transfer limitations by using diagnostic criteria.
• Identify individual elementary reactions.

General competence:

• Be familiar with the principles of catalytic reactions and how the kinetics of the reactions can be derived and applied in practice.
• Recognize important catalytic reactions, in particular for energy conversion and environmental chemistry processes.
• The candidates should be able to identify if a reaction is kinetically controlled or if it is controlled by external limitations such as heat or mass transfer.

Learning methods and activities

The course is given as 3 hours of lectures, 2 hours of of exercises and 7 hours of self study per week. 7 exercises must be passed in order to be admitted to the exam. A score of 60% or higher must be achieved for passing an exercise. Lectures and exam are given in English.

Compulsory assignments

• Exercises

Course content

The course deals with operation and safety and in chemical and biological processes in industry. Process safety involves a good understanding of the characteristics of different process units, how the units are designed and built, and how the units are combined. Operational features are very important. The students must analyze real accidents and undesired events, and are introduced to tools for hazard and risk assessment and analysis as well as specific topics (leak rates, leak dispersion, chemical reactivity hazards, flammability and explosions, toxicology and industrial hygiene).

Learning outcome

Knowledge:

• The candidate should have knowledge about important safety challenges linked to the design, building and operation of industrial plants and laboratory activities
• The candidate should have knowledge about potential dangers linked to accidents or emissions from chemical or biological process plants
• The candidate should have knowledge about methods for the analysis of safety and accidents
• The candidate should have knowledge about safety metrics, basic toxicology, principles of industrial hygiene, loss of containment and leak rates, methods for describing gas dispersion in the environment, flammability and explosions, chemical reactivity hazards

Skills

• The candidate can through the analysis of industrial accidents or undesired events identify the cause of the events and propose improvements in design or operation of a process or process unit
• The candidate can analyse existing plants and describe critical parameters linked with good and safe operation of the plant
• The candidate should be able to apply central tools for the analysis of safety and accidents in the process industry
• The candidate is able to use key methods to describe important features relevant to flammability, leak rates and leak dispersion, chemical reactivity, toxicology and risk assessment

General competence

• The candidate can search for and retrieve information about processes and equipment and link this information to fundamental theory in the field
• The candidate is familiar with important principles for safe operation of process plants
• The candidate has a good knowledge about different kinds of risks linked to industrial process plants
• The candidate can communicate knowledge about safe design and operation of process plants

• ndidate can communicate knowledge about safe design and operation of process plan

Learning methods and activities

The course will be taught using lectures and presentations combined with compulsory exercises individually and in groups. The exercises include analysis of real accidents and undesired events (case-studies) linked to fundamental theory about safety and technical issues.

Compulsory assignments

• Excersises

Course content

The course starts by deriving the thermodynamic driving force and the kinetics of nucleation and growth of nanoparticles by focusing on precipitation from solutions. Different mechanism for nucleation and crystal growth along with strategies to control particle size (distribution) and morphology define the basis for design of different particle populations. The classical crystallization theory is presented as the fundamental theoretical background and recently emerging alternative hypotheses are discussed.

Synthesis and functionalization of metallic and polymeric nanoparticles will be presented with an understanding of how growth can be controlled by tuning synthetic parameters. Functionalization of particle surfaces will be treated to tailor them towards specific applications. Solution-based characterization techniques will be discussed from fundamental principles that are relevant for such nanomaterials.

The notation for describing crystalline surfaces and their relevance as catalysts and nanoparticle model systems are presented. Experimental principles and techniques for determining surface structure and area, morphology, composition, and crystal structure are introduced. Methods for the fabrication of catalysts and (porous) supports based on precipitation are presented, as well as other methods with relevance for the catalyst nanostructure and microporosity.

A project work is carried out as a part of the course that involves fabrication and characterization of nanomaterials to endorse the learning outcomes via hands-on, practical experience.

Learning outcome

At the end of the course the students should:

- Understand the basis and driving forces necessary for the production of nanoparticles.

- Describe different mechanisms for nucleation and growth of amorphous and crystalline nanoparticles in relation to the thermodynamic driving force and effective parameters.

- Quantify nucleation and growth rates for nanoparticles.

- Suggest ways of tailoring nanoparticle populations in terms of precipitating phase, phase purity, particle size and size distribution, and morphology, based on changes in important system parameters and choice of method.

- Understand how surface functionalization can alter end use/applications of nanomaterials

- Understand the underlying principles and limitations of characterization techniques frequently used for studying nanostructures, including nanoparticles in solution, dry nanoparticles, and catalytic surfaces.

- Understand the fundamental principles for catalyst fabrication by precipitation, hydrothermal synthesis, and use of colloidal particles.

- Give examples of catalytic reaction systems where the significance of particle size and/or the nanostructure has been identified.

- Analyze and interpret experimental data.

Learning methods and activities

Lectures, compulsory exercises and compulsory project work.

Compulsory assignments

• Exercises

Course content

The specialization project is to be chosen with the fields of Catalysis, colloid and polymer chemistry, environmental engineering and reactor technology or process-system engineering. The project will be given within current research activity in the research group or, in cooperation with faculty, as collaboration with external research institutes or industry.

The project work will include definition and limitation of the work to be performed, literature search in current literature, a time schedule for the projects, experimental work or theoretical work, e.g. modeling, and interpretation and reporting of results. When relevant, the impact of the studied process or materials on the sustainability of the industrial process should be shortly discussed.

Learning outcome

Knowledge:

• The project provides the student with knowledge within one or several central areas of chemical engineering within catalysis, process systems engineering, colloid and polymer chemistry, environmental engineering, or reactor technology.

Skills: After the course, the student should

• Have obtained in-debt knowledge in the core topic of chemical engineering.

• Have skills in independent planning of small R & D work and systematical treatment and interpretation of data and relevant information.
• Be able to analyze the results and discuss the challenges and opportunities with the proposed solutions.
• Have experience of how to present results both written and orally.

General competence:

• After fulfilling the course, the student will have detailed knowledge about the specific industrial challenge. The student can use this competence in projects where these topics are integrated as components or technology elements.
• Students should understand how their work connects to sustainable development in chemical engineering.

Learning methods and activities

Individual laboratory or project-based work under supervision. An oral presentation of the project.

Expected workload for this course is 400 hours

Compulsory assignments

• Presentation

Course content

The specialization consists of modules giving a total sum 7,5 credits. Modules are chosen from the following list: Environmental catalysis - (3.75 credits). Heterogeneous catalysis (advanced course).- (3.75 credits). Industrial colloid chemistry - (3.75 credits). Reactor modelling - (3.75 credits). Chemical engineering, special topics - (3.75 credits). Modules from other specialisations can be chosen given the approval of the coordinator.

Learning outcome

At the end of the course the students should: - Understand and apply core principles and concepts in heterogeneous catalysis. - Know the most important catalytic materials, and describe their functions. - Describe important applications of heterogeneous catalysts in energy conversion, emissions clean-up, and clean production. - Evaluate and select catalysts for a range of processes. - Plan and choose methods for characterization of key properties and the measurement of catalytic activity, selectivity and life-time of heterogeneous catalysts. - Evaluate the causes of deactivation and propose methods for the regeneration of heterogeneous catalysts. - The students should be able to find relevant scientific literature, and be able to understand and reproduce the work that has been done. - The students should be able to report scientific work concisely both orally and in written form.

Learning methods and activities

The modules are given as lectures, seminars, excercises, self-study. The students are expected to use 200 hours on the tasks and studies in this course.

Course content

The course is given every second year, next time in the fall term 2025. The course aims to give an understanding of the relation between modern theories of catalysis and the industrial application for the most important groups of heterogeneous catalysts; metals, metal oxides and zeolites. Assessment of the potential developments and limitations of catalysts will be analyzed through examples from industrial applications or processes under development. This includes the catalyst synthesis, a kinetic description of the different processes involved in a catalytic cycle (adsorption, surface reaction and desorption), mass and heat transfer issues, as well as interpretation of results from experimental and theoretical investigations.

Learning outcome

Knowledge: The students should know about modern theories and experimental findings relevant to heterogeneously catalyzed reactions and their implications to important industrial processes as well as processes that are yet to be commercialized. The knowledge should be particularly targeted towards upgrading of crude oil, conversion of natural gas, production of bulk chemicals, cleaning of emissions, and to renewable energy. Skills: The students should be able to find and choose relevant work from the research literature on a given subject within heterogeneous catalysis. They should know, or be able to assess, the opportunities, limitations and relevance of the experimental and theoretical methodology that has been applied. Furthermore, should they be able to combine the information into an overall picture that reveals both consensus and contradictions/conflicts regarding the understanding of the process in question. Finally, they should be able to present and discuss this picture within an audience of researchers. General competence: The students are able to discuss and assess existing and emerging findings and theories within heterogeneous catalysis, in a scientific as well as an industrial context, ba

sed on own experience in combination with recent results presented and published by other researchers.

Course content

The course is given every second year, next time in Fall 2024. The reactions in heterogeneous catalysis take place on the surfaces of solid materials such as metals, metal oxides and zeolites. The surface properties are determining the catalyst activity, selectivity and lifetime. Advanced methods for characterizing solid surfaces and adsorbed species are therefore valuable for the understanding of catalytic reactions. This subject gives an overview of the most common characterisation techniques and a detailed introduction to the application of the techniques on catalytic systems. Both chemical and spectroscopic methods are discussed. In situ methods are emphasized in the course.

Learning outcome

Knowledge: - Identify important characterisation techniques for catalytic materials and reactions. - Understand the basic principles of operation for the characterisation techniques. - Know what kind of information about the materials which can be extracted from the various techniques. - Knowledge about which techniques can be used at typical catalytic reaction conditions (in situ). - Know about limitations in application areas and be able to estimate uncertainty in the data from the techniques. Skills: - Be able to identify which techniques can be used to obtain specific information. - Be able to interpret characterisation data from the most important techniques. - Be able to explain principles and mode of operation for the most important characterisation techniques. - Identify at which reaction conditions the various techniques can be applied. General competence: - To have a clear overview over available techniques and how they can be applied to characterise catalyst materials and catalytic reactions. - Be able to evaluate and discuss the quality of characterisation data in scientific reports and publications.

Course content

The course will be given every second year, next time spring 2026. The course gives an overview on the methods for building microkinetic model, collecting or theoretically estimating rate constant, and microkinetic simulation. Focus will also on the microkinetic analysis of reaction systems at the atomic level. A project work of microkinetic modeling of a selected reaction system will be included in the course.

Learning outcome

Knowledge: The students should know about modern theories relevant to kinetics of heterogeneously catalyzed reactions. The knowledge should be targeted towards combining computational chemistry, surface science, kinetic and mechanistic study of selected reactions in the microkinetic modelling and analysis. Skills: The students should be able to find and choose relevant reaction mechanisms of selected reactions. They should be able to predict and calibrate the kinetic constants of elementary steps. Based on the microkinetic modelling, they are able to analyze the rate determining steps and reduce the microkinetic model to simple kinetic models. Finally, they should be able to present and discuss the microkinetic analysis of the reactions within an audience of researchers. General competence: The students are able to assess reaction mechanisms, model and simulate the kinetic behaviour of heterogeneous catalytic reactions.

Course content

The course is an introduction to important principles and methods of heterogeneous and homogeneous catalysis. The importance of catalysis as a key technology in sustainable chemical process industry, in energy production and in environmental processes. Definition of catalysis, elementary reactions, chain reactions and catalytic sequences. Adsorption, desorption, surface area and porosity. Langmuir-Hinshelwood kinetics. Kinetic modelling. Catalyst preparation and characterisation. Modern theories for surfaces and surface reactions. Internal and external mass and heat transfer in catalyst particles. The effect of diffusion on reaction kinetics. Multifunctional catalysis. Catalysis by transition metal complexes. Two seminars specific for the PhD students taking the course.

Learning outcome

Knowledge: -To have overview and knowledge about important industrial catalytic processes and the most common catalysts. -Know how catalysts are applied in sustainable industrial processes to reduce the energy demand and to improve selectivity to the desired products. -Be able to identify reaction sequences and suggest reaction mechanisms for chemical reactions. -Be familiar with synthesis methods for preparation of catalysts and important catalyst characterisation methods. -Know how internal and external mass transfer limitations influence the kinetics of catalytic reactions. -Understand the most common deactivation mechanisms for heterogeneous catalysts and how they influence the kinetics. -Be aware of the criteria of good experimental practice in kinetic measurements. -Understand reaction cycles in homogeneous transition metal complex catalysis. Skills: -Derive rate expressions for catalytic reactions based on Langmuir-Hinshelwood kinetics. -Design catalytic experiments with control over reaction kinetics without influence of heat and mass transfer limitations. -Apply chemisorption and kinetic data to calculate reaction rates and specific reaction rate. -Identify and distinguish different deactivation mechanisms present in heterogeneous catalysts. -Identify internal and external mass transfer limitations by using diagnostic criteria. -Identify individual elementary reactions, perform valence electron book-keeping for reaction cycles in homogeneous catalytic reactions General competence: -Be familiar with the principles of catalytic reactions and how the kinetics of the reactions can be derived and applied in practice. -Recognize important catalytic reactions, in particular for energy and environmental processes. -The candidates should be able to identify if a reaction is kinetically controlled or if equilibrium or external limitations such as heat or mass transfer are present.

Learning methods and activities

Expected workload per week is 3 hours of lectures, 2 hours of exercises and 7 hours of self-study. Lectures in English.

Compulsory assignments

• Mandatory excercises