Separations/Mass Transfer

Syllabi, schedules, course notes

• Christian Brothers University: Detailed syllabus and lecture notes
• MIT Open Courseware: Separations processes syllabus, schedule, exams, assignments, and course materials
• University of Maryland Baltimore County: Separations processes syllabus, schedule, course notes, links

Textbooks

Screencasts

• LearnChemE (University of Colorado Boulder): More than 85 short screencast videos for separations and mass transfer including example problems, introduction to topics, and explanations of how to use diagrams.

Interactive Simulations

• CheCalc Simulations
• Interactive McCabe Thiele Diagrams
• Vapor Pressure and Flash Calculations
• Liquid-Liquid Ternary Separations (University of Sheffield, University of Manchester): An interactive system to learn how to use ternary phase diagrams and design liquid-liquid extraction systems
• LearnChemE (University of Colorado Boulder): More than 45 Mathematica-based interactive simulations that can be run with a free CDF player plug-in. Their main objective is to demonstrate important concepts in phase equilibrium, separations and mass transfer. Most simulations have accompanying screencasts that demonstrate their use.

ConcepTests

Multiple-choice conceptual questions for use in class with student response systems (clickers)

• LearnChemE (University of Colorado Boulder): More than 200 separations/mass transfer ConcepTests. Contact LearnChemE@gmail.com to obtain access.
• AIChE Concept Warehouse (Oregon State University)

Software

• ChemSep column simulator: For distillation, absorption, and extraction operations. It combines the equilibrium stage column model with a nonequilibrium (rate-based) column model.
• VLE Calc: Interactive modules that generate phase diagrams for 1, 2, or 3 components.
• CheCalc: Downloadable spreadsheets for vapor-liquid equilibrium and distillation.
• Excel Template for Ternary Phase Diagram

Useful Links

• Distillation: An introduction.
• APV Handbook on distillation: Industrial perspective on distillation.
• Wikipedia Separation Processes (with links to the individual process types)
• SeparationProcesses.com: Extensive information on distillation, gas absorption, solvent extraction, humidification, adsorption, membrane separations, and more.
• Visual Encyclopedia of Chemical Engineering: Chemical Separations / Mechanical Separations
• NIST Webbook:
  • Thermophysical Properties of Fluid Systems: Resource for calculating P-V-T behavior and physical properties of common inorganic and organic compounds
  • Chemistry Webbook: Properties of 10,000’s of compounds.
  • IUPAC-NIST Solubility database
• ScienceDirect links:
  • Distillation
  • Extraction
  • Membrane Contactors
  • The Encyclopedia of Separation Science