Understanding Unit Operations: A Visual Guide for Chemical Engineers by Ahmad Huzairy

Introduction to Unit Operations

ujaibestari03 — 2025-05-15 15:54:46 UTC

Unit operations are the fundamental building blocks of chemical processes. They involve physical changes such as phase changes, mixing, separation, and heat/mass transfer.

Distillation

ujaibestari03 — 2025-05-15 15:55:48 UTC

Distillation is a separation technique based on differences in boiling points.

Key equation: Raoult’s Law:

Pᵢ = xᵢPᵢ⁰

Used widely in petroleum refining, alcohol purification, and chemical manufacturing.

Absorption

ujaibestari03 — 2025-05-15 15:56:44 UTC

Absorption involves transferring a gas into a liquid.

Example: Removal of CO₂ using NaOH solution.

Key Concept:

Gas-liquid contact improves mass transfer efficiency.

Formula:

Mass Transfer Rate = k_L × A × (C* - C)

Crystallization

ujaibestari03 — 2025-05-15 15:57:55 UTC

Crystallization is used to purify solid compounds by controlling nucleation and crystal growth.

Key Terms:

Supersaturation
Nucleation
Crystal habit

Rate of crystallization ∝ (C - C*)ⁿ

Filtration & Drying

ujaibestari03 — 2025-05-15 16:03:44 UTC

Filtration removes solids from liquids using porous media.

Drying removes moisture using heat or vacuum.

Examples:

Vacuum filtration
Rotary drum dryer

Unit Operations in Industry

ujaibestari03 — 2025-05-15 16:04:36 UTC