Examination arrangement

Course content

The Specialization course consists of two modules of 3.75 sp to make a total of 7.5 sp. The electable modules are:

Experimental Colloid Chemistry (3.75 sp): The subject introduces basic design of experiments, statistical data analysis and data management methods as tools for rational and efficient laboratory work. Furthermore, principles of selected experimental techniques for characterization of surface and colloid chemical phenomena are presented with examples from industrial applications and household products, including water treatment, paint production, petroleum production, and food and cosmetic products. The theory is combined with exercises.

Surfactants and Polymers in Aqueous Solution (3.75 sp): This module introduces aqueous solution behavior and adsorption behavior of surfactants and polymers. A Gibbs free energy thermodynamic approach is adopted. The physical behavior of surfactants and polymers is attributed to changes in entropy and enthalpy. Hydrophobic interactions and electrostatic interactions are recurring themes in the module. These interactions reveal the physical nature of micellization, clouding, adsorption, polymer-surfactant binding, lyotropic liquid crystal formation, associative phase separation, and segregative phase separation. Spontaneous curvature and molecular packing considerations govern the geometries of self-assembled structures. The Gibbs phase rule relates the number of equilibrium phases to the available degrees of freedom in the system. The Langmuir equation describes adsorption onto solid surfaces.

Chemical Engineering, special topics (3.75 stp)

Other electable modules at the Department:

Gas cleaning (3.75 sp): Introduction to energy production. Formation of different gas pollutants as well as the most used purification methods with particular focus on absorption technologies. Selected processes for the removal of acid gases like CO2, SO2, and H2S as well as the removal of selected other gas compounds like NOx and VOC, will be discussed. An overall assessment of climate challenges will be discussed in light of international agreements.

Membrane separation (3.75 sp): The course will give introduction to basic material technology and membrane separation of liquid and gas streams. Specific topics are transport mechanisms, membrane material properties, how the membranes are produced, characterization of the membrane materials, types of modules and applications both for gases and liquids. Phenomena like concentration polarization and fouling will also be discussed, including how to reduce these effects.

Heterogenous catalysis (advanced course) (3,75 sp) The course provides a specialization in heterogeneous catalysis. The module is based on TKP4155, and selected topics are discussed. Topics include catalytic materials, characterization methods, activity measurements including the impact of transport limitations, kinetics and catalyst deactivation. Understanding, analysing and planning experimental investigations of heterogeneous catalysts are emphasized. The course givs training in written and oral reporting.

Environmental catalysis (3,75 sp): The course provides an introduction to heterogeneous catalysis applied to energy conversion, emissions abatement and clean production. The module is to some extent based on TKP4150. Important topics include exhaust and industrial emissions removal, hydrogen production and fuel cells, biofuels production, photocatalysis, catalytic waste water treatment and green chemistry. The course gives training in using the research literature.

Crystallization and Particle Design (3.75 sp): The module will cover the classical crystallization theory and fundamentals of particle design. Important thermodynamic and kinetic factors for solution crystallization will be defined. Special conditions related to the production of nanoparticles and material development by biomineralization and other strategies such as co-precipitation, thermal decomposition, nanoprecipitation, among others, will be discussed. An introduction to industrial crystallization will be given to analyze separation performance, removal of impurities by precipitation and scaling on process equipment. The module will also focus on different characterization techniques for particles in suspension. Functionalization of the particles both in situ (during synthesis) and post situ will be covered in detail with an aim to tailor particles for chosen applications within biomedicine and environmental resource management.

Model Predictive Control for Chemical and Bio Processes (3.75sp)The module starts with a brief overview of how process systems are operated, and then quickly moves to the main part in which we present different methods for implementing model predictive control on Chemical and Biological process systems. The lectures and reading materials will be accompanied by coding exercises, where the students develop their own template codes for a few MPC algorithms. Related topics such as real-time optimization and state estimation, as well as other implementation aspects will be discussed briefly, too. For the exercises, a bioreactor is used as a case study.

Learning outcome

At the end of the course the students should:

- Collect, understand and refer to peer reviewed, international literature

- Use selected advanced methods within chemical engineering on practical applications

- Present the results in an oral presentation

Module specific learning outcome:

Experimental Colloid Chemistry:

• Use experimental design to plan laboratory work

• Understand the principles for selected experimental methods

Surfactants and Polymers in Aqueous Solution:

- Conceptually differentiate between entropic & enthalpic contributions to the hydrophobic force

- Describe Gibbs free energy changes associated with (1) micellization, (2) polymer-surfactant binding, and (3) adsorption of polymers/surfactants onto hydrophobic/hydrophilic surfaces

- Understand interactions between surfactants and polymers at various physical conditions, and the phase behavior and rheological behavior

- Predict micellar growth and lyotropic liquid crystal phases based on the critical packing parameter (CPP)

- Determine critical micelle concentration (CMC) and critical association concentration (CAC) values from a given data set

- Relate the number of equilibrium phases in an aqueous polymer-surfactant system to the degrees of freedom, using the Gibbs phase rule

- Interpret phase diagrams and identify phase separation and stable domains

- Apply adsorption isotherms to determine surface coverage and adsorption affinity

Membrane separation:

• Understand basic transport mechanisms in membrane separation;
• Have an overview of membrane material properties and performance, fabrication and characterization methods, and processes in selected applications

Heterogenous catalysis (advanced course)

• Be able to propose catalyst design specifics and preparation routes for heterogeneous catalysts
• Have an overview of the main characterization methods used for heterogeneous catalysts
• Know the basic principles of activity- and selectivity measurements, and understand the impact of transport limitations and catalyst deactivation

Environmental catalysis

• Know and be able to describe how heterogeneous catalysis is used in emissions abatement, energy conversion and clean production
• Be able to describe catalytic steps in hydrogen production and use
• Know the principles of photocatalysis
• Understand the conversion of biomass via thermochemical and catalytic process routes

Crystallization and Particle Design:

• Understand the conditions that govern the size and shape of micro- and nanoparticles within the fundamentals of crystallization theory
• Get introduced to industrial crystallization processes and concepts
• Understand the physicochemical properties of the synthesized particles using different characterization techniques
• Learn different strategies for functionalization and stabilization of particles in suspension to cater to different biomedical and environmental applications

Model Predictive Control for Chemical and Bio Processes.At the end of the course, the students will be able to implement their own nonlinear model predictive controller in matlab and have a good understanding of the most important issues related to implementation of MPC in chemical, bio, and energy processes.

Learning methods and activities

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

Compulsory activities:

Experimental Colloid Chemistry:

• exercises

Surfactants and Polymers in Aqueous Solution:

• Group presentation (3-4 students per group).

• Presentation Topic: Entropic and enthalpic contributions to the hydrophobic force as a function of temperature.

Chemical Engineering, special topics

- presentation of a scientific paper

Membrane separation:

• Exercises
• Group presentations (2-3 students a group)

Heterogeneous catalysis advanced course:

• Essay analysing a scientific paper (individual task)
• Presentation of a scientific paper (individual task)

Environmental catalysis

• In-depth study of a scientific paper.

Crystallization and Particle Design:

• Exercises
• Term paper summarizing 6-8 scientific papers (individual task)
• Presentation of term paper (individual task)

Model Predictive Control for Chemical and Bio Processes.

• Exercises

Presentations

Compulsory assignments

• Oral presentation of a scientific article

Further on evaluation

Oral exam

Specific conditions

Recommended previous knowledge

TKP4115 Surface and Colloid Chemistry and TKP4130 Polymer Chemistry, or equivalent knowledge. Recommended pre-reading will also depend on the chosen topic.

Course materials

Given first day of class.

Credit reductions