Kappa Tau Consulting

To enable R&D and development chemists to take an active role in selecting appropriate technologies
To provide chemists with an appreciation of the differences between laboratory and commercial purification and separation methods
To introduce chemists to the chemical engineering aspects involved in separation processes

Potential Audience

This course describes the major separation and purification technologies used on a commercial scale in the chemical industry and covers the basic principles of each technique. The separation and purification of chemicals on pilot plants and commercial plants is an extremely important aspect of chemical process development which is not always appreciated by R&D chemists in the fine chemicals and organic chemicals industries. The aim of the course is to provide these individuals with a sound understanding and an appreciation of the main separation methods which are available including the selection of equipment and its operation.
The course describes the differences and similarities between laboratory scale and pilot and commercial scale separations and how they function in commercial situations. The format is to provide the background theoretical basis for each technique and describe its applications and limitations. It is not intended to discuss how to design equipment for each of the technologies but an understanding of the information needed by engineers will be presented. Thus when undertaking process development work and investigating separation methods or techniques, the development chemist will have an appreciation of what information and data are needed for design purposes.
The use of real case studies and problem solving sessions are an important part of the course. These are used during the course to describe the practical application of different purification and separation technologies.
The course will describe the developments in some of the new and important technologies that are being used commercially such as simulated moving bed chromatography, supercritical fluid extraction and membrane techniques such as pervaporation. An extensive list of references to applications of these and other more common techniques will be supplied

Day 1
Introduction to Separation Technology
Choosing a Separation Process
Case Studies/Problems
Introduction to and Principles of Crystallisation

Day 2
Adductive, Extractive and Melt Crystallisation
Summary of Commercial Crystallisation Equipment
Evaporation and Commercial Evaporators
Introduction to Solid/Liquid Separations
How to Select SLS Process and Equipment
Case Studies/Problems
Commercial Filtration and Centrifugation Equipment
Introduction to Column Separation Processes
Comparing the use of Column Packings and Trays
Absorption of Gases and VOC Control Processes
Introduction to Distillation
Collecting VLE data and other details for design purposes

Day 3
Distillation Terminology and Techniques
Azeotropic, Extractive and Steam Distillation
Ion Exchange Methods
Introduction to Membrane Separation Techniques
Adsorption Separation Processes
Simulated Moving Bed Chromatography
Case Studies/Problems
Introduction to Extraction Processes and Techniques

Day 4
Solid/liquid Extraction and Leaching
Liquid/liquid Extraction
Equipment Used in Extraction Processes
Sovent Extraction Case Study
Introduction to Supercritical Fluid Extraction
Examples and Case Studies of SCF Extraction