Separation Operations

- To provide the theoretical knowledge and the ability for solving problems on the separation processes in the chemical industry, as specified in the contents of the course.
- To provide the abilities for the theoretical design of the units for the separation processes.
- To provide a specific idea of the equipment required for those processes.

1. Separation processes principles
2. Evaporation processes
3. Drying
4. Solid-liquid extraction
5. Crystallisation methods
6. Separation through membranes
7. Separation through porous materials
8. Mechanical separation of solids

Main bibliography
J.D. Seader, E.J. Henley, D.K. Roper; Separation Process Principles, 4th Ed., ISBN: 978-1-119-23959-8, Wiley, Hoboken, NJ (2016)

Complementary bibliography
E.J. Henley y J.D. Seader, Operaciones de separación por etapas de equilibrio en ingeniería química, ISBN: 9788429179088, Reverté, Barcelona (1998).
P.C. Wankat, Ingeniería de Procesos de Separación, 2a Ed., ISBN: 978-9702612810, Pearson Education, México (2008)
R. Sinnott and G. Towler, Chemical Engineering Design, 6th Ed, ISBN: 9780081025994, Butterworth-Heinmann, Oxford (2020). [Avaliable as a digital resource at the USC Library]

Specific skills:
CQ.1.1 Knowledge of mass and energy transfer.
CQ.1.3 Knowledge of mass transfer and separation processes. Design of separation units.

General skills:
CG.3 Knowledge of basic and technological subjects enables them to learn new methods and gives them the versatility to adapt to new situations.
CG.4 Ability to solve problems by developing creativity, decision-making capacity, and disseminating results and skills in chemical engineering.

Soft skills:
CT.1 Analytical skills.
CT.4 Ability to use and develop computational tools.
CT.6 Problem-solving.
CT.8 Teamwork.
CT.13 Ability to apply theoretical knowledge in case studies.
CT.19 Self-directed learning.

The main goal of the lectures will be to present the theoretical aspects of the topic. Besides, these will include demonstrations on how to solve practical exercises.
Seminars will take place at the end of each topic, focusing on the students' resolution of practical exercises and case studies, often working in teams. The computational tool to solve those exercises will be MS Excel (or similar).
The students will prepare case studies on specific topics of the course, in which they will use the gathered knowledge to solve a design problem of a separation unit.
The tutoring sessions will be intended to develop specific parts of the course, such as resolving any issues with the theoretical and practical contents, and the development of the group project.
The Learning Management System of the USC will be used as a support tool for the teaching activities.
In addition, students will be welcomed to individual tutoring sessions to clear up any questions.

By competence:
Lectures: CQ.1.3, CG.3, CG.4; CT.1, CT.6.
Seminars and tutoring sessions: CQ.1.3; CG.4; CT.1, CT.4, CT.6, CT.8, CT.13, CT.19.
Active participation by the student: CQ1.3, CG.4, CT.1, CT.6, CT.13, CT.19.

The evaluation of the student's performance will be done considering several aspects of their participation in the following activities:
1) Activities of attendance and participation associated with lectures and seminars – 20% of the final marks.
2) Participation in tutoring activities – 5% of the final marks.
3) Group project – 15% of the final marks.
4) Final exam – theory contents (30%) and practical exercises (70%) – 60% of the final marks.

To successfully complete the course, it is required to achieve a minimum of 5,0 in the final marks. In order to be evaluated, in both the first and second chance, it is necessary that the student reaches a minimum of 35% in each of the activities described above. In the case of not reaching those minimum marks for the re-take of the exam, the student will have to present an individual project to achieve such a minimum. In the case of not reaching the minimum marks in the partial evaluations, the student's final marks will be those associated with such an activity. The marks in activities 1 and 2 will be communicated to the students prior to the realisation of the final exam. The partial marks in activities 1 and 2 will be kept for the re-take of the exam, which will be again 60% of the global marks. Those partial marks will not be kept between different university terms.

By competence:
Exam: CQ.1.1, CQ.1.3, CG.3, CG.4, CT.1, CT.6, CT.13.
Project: CQ.1.3, CG.3, CG.4, CT.1, CT.4, CT.6, CT.13.
Active participation by the student: CQ1.3, CG.4, CT.1, CT.6, CT.13, CT.19.

In the case of fraudulent performance of exercises or tests, the provisions of the "Regulations for the validation of academic performance for two students and for the review of qualifications” will apply.

The course involves 4.5 ECTS, with total dedication by the student of 114 h. It is estimated that the student will dedicate 1.5 h of personal time for each hour of the course.
Activity: Classroom activity (h) – Personal effort (h).
Lectures: 28 – 42
Seminars: 9 – 14
Tutoring activities: 1 – 4
Examination: 4 – 12
Total: 42 – 72

It is recommended to have taken the courses on “Principles of Chemical Processes”, “Applied Thermodynamics” and “Mass Transfer”.
It is important that the students keep the contents of the course up to date.

The Learning Management system will be used as the repository for the digital documents associated with the course.
Teaching activities will be performed in Galician and Spanish, attending to the requirements of the students.