Sustainable Process Engineering (eBook)

Acknowledgments 5
Contents 7
1 Inevitability of sustainable development 13
1.1 The real determinants of our ecosphere 15
1.2 Material problems of civilization 17
1.3 The environmental problems of the air 21
1.3.1 Greenhouse effect 21
1.3.2 Acid rain 24
1.3.3 Main air pollutants 26
1.4 The environmental problems of water 34
1.4.1 The main effects of water pollution 34
1.4.2 Thermal pollution of water 38
1.4.3 Organic contaminants in water 38
1.4.4 Inorganic contaminants in water 39
1.5 The environmental problems of soil 41
1.6 Measures to maintain the quality of the environment 43
1.6.1 Environmental conventions 43
1.6.2 Carbon neutral policy 46
1.6.3 Green chemistry concept 49
1.6.4 Clean technologies 50
1.6.5 Sustainable development 53
1.6.6 How to achieve sustainable development 55
2 Past and present of process engineering 59
2.1 The origins and domains of process engineering 59
2.1.1 Early history of process engineering 59
2.1.2 Industrial era of process engineering 62
2.2 Principles, system and methodology 68
2.2.1 Unit processes concept 68
2.2.2 Conservation laws 71
2.2.3 Analogies between transport of momentum, heat and mass 72
2.2.4 Onsager theorem and analogies between different processes 74
2.2.5 Phenomenological transport equations in unit processes 75
2.2.6 Solution of transport equations by the Laplace transform method 78
2.2.7 Solving the transport equation for semi-permeable surfacesm(membranes) 82
2.2.8 Solution of transport equations by numerical methods 84
2.2.9 Flow regimes 86
2.2.10 Residence time distribution 91
2.3 Dynamic processes 95
2.3.1 Flow of fluids 95
2.3.2 Fluid flow through a fixed bed 100
2.3.3 Rising or falling of particles of one phase in the second phase 102
2.3.4 Bubble flow 104
2.4 Heat transfer processes 106
2.4.1 Basics of heat transfer 106
2.4.2 Heat conduction through the flat plate in steady-state conditions 107
2.4.3 Heat conduction through the multi-layer plate in steady-state conditions 108
2.4.4 Heat conduction through a cylinder 109
2.4.5 Heat conduction through a sphere 110
2.4.6 Heat convection in one phase during fluid flow 110
2.4.7 Heat radiation 113
2.4.8 Overall heat transfer between fluids in the heat exchanger 115
2.5 Mass transport processes 116
2.5.1 Diffusive mass transfer processes 116
2.5.2 Counter-current equimolar diffusion 118
2.5.3 Diffusion of the component A by inert component B 119
2.5.4 Statistical-mechanistic model of mass transport 120
2.5.5 Statistical-mechanical theory of membrane transport 122
2.5.6 Diffusional methods of separation 124
2.5.7 Kinetics of mass transport processes 125
2.6 Kinetics of reactions 138
2.6.1 Chemical reactions 138
2.6.2 Types of chemical bonds 141
2.6.3 Catalysts 142
3 Mathematical methods in design 145
3.1 Dimensional analysis 145
3.1.1 The general method for verifying dimensional independence 145
3.1.2 Modeling of the functions with all dimensionally-independent arguments 146
3.1.3 Modeling of dimensional function with the “dimensionally dependent” arguments 148
3.2 Identification of mathematical models of processes 152
3.3 The theory of similarity 155
4 Nanoprocesses 161
4.1 Microreactors 161
4.1.1 Structure and function of microreactors 161
4.1.2 Characteristics of microreactors 163
4.1.3 Microreactor design 164
4.1.4 Applications of microreactors 167
4.1.5 Catalytic reactions in microreactors 170
4.1.6 Microfotoreactors 171
4.1.7 Manufacturers of microreactors 171
4.2 Membranes and their unlimited opportunities 172
4.2.1 Membrane manufacture 173
4.2.2 Membrane contactors 174
4.2.3 Immobilization of species on membranes 175
4.2.4 Controlled release of species with membranes 177
4.2.5 Membrane separation processes 178
4.2.6 Mass transport in membranes 184
4.2.7 Model of constant pressure membrane filtration 194
4.2.8 Concentration polarization 197
4.2.9 Concentration polarization according to surface renewal theory 200
4.2.10 Engineering of membrane processes 207
4.2.11 Sustainable applications of membrane processes 217
4.3 Hybrid processes 221
4.3.1 Hybrid processes with low integration degree 221
4.3.2 Hybrid processes with high integration degree 226
4.3.3 Photocatalyst 231
4.3.4 Electroprocesses 236
4.3.5 Particle aggregation with membrane separation 237
4.4 Sorption processes 241
4.4.1 Adsorption processes 241
4.4.2 Biosorption processes 242
4.4.3 The properties and microstructures of sorbents 245
4.4.4 Sorption equilibrium 245
4.4.5 Kinetics of the sorption process 251
4.4.6 Experimental verification of membrane biosorption 253
4.5 Membrane sorption – the new sorption process in the membrane contactor 256
4.5.1 The mass balance in the batch mode of adsorption 256
4.5.2 Mass balance of the adsorbed substance in continuous mode of operation 257
4.5.3 Sorption at the membrane surface for the batch mode with backflushing 257
4.5.4 Sorption at the membrane surface for the continuous mode in crossflow 259
4.6 Membrane leaching – the new leaching process in membrane contactor 266
4.6.1 The kinetics of the dissolution of the substance extracted from solid grains 268
4.6.2 Flushing out of the substance extracted from solid grains 269
4.6.3 The nonstationary (dead-end) membrane leaching process 270
4.6.4 The stationary process of membrane leaching 274
5 Bioprocesses 281
5.1 Biotechnology 281
5.2 Bioprocess engineering 284
5.2.1 Bioprocess simplifications in biotechnology 284
5.2.2 Stoichiometry of bioprocesses 285
5.2.3 The energy issues of microbial growth 291
5.3 Enzymes 292
5.3.1 Michaelis–Menten equation of enzymatic reaction equilibrium 295
5.3.2 The role of the enzymes in the processes of life 300
5.3.3 Industrial importance of enzymes 301
5.3.4 The industrial importance of microorganisms 302
5.3.5 The industrial importance of photosynthesis 303
5.4 Biorefineries 306
5.4.1 Biorefinery principles 306
5.4.2 Biorefinery products 310
5.4.3 Biorefinery substrates 314
5.4.4 Algae aquacultures 321
5.5 Biopolymers 329
5.5.1 Background and context 329
5.5.2 Production of biopolymers 331
5.6 Renewable energy 334
5.6.1 Global energy policy 334
5.6.2 Energy fundamentals 340
5.6.3 Biogas 342
5.6.4 Bioethanol 342
5.6.5 Biodiesel 345
5.6.6 Production of biofuels from algae 350
5.7 Hydrogen production 352
5.7.1 Nonbiological hydrogen production 352
5.7.2 Biological production of hydrogen 355
6 Process engineering closer to man 359
6.1 Applications of process engineering to modern medicine 359
6.1.1 General view of medical cooperation with engineering 359
6.1.2 Drug delivery systems 360
6.1.3 Artificial kidney 362
6.1.4 Functional liver substitution 363
6.1.5 Artificial pancreas 364
6.1.6 Liquid assisted ventilation (LAV) as an alternative therapy for pulmonary failure 365
6.1.7 Red blood cell substitutes 366
6.1.8 MEMS Micro-electro-mechanical systems for medical testing and diagnostics 368
6.1.9 The future applications of process engineering to modern medicine 370
6.2 Separation of enantiomers 370
6.2.1 Enantiomers and their role in pharmacotherapy 370
6.2.2 The characteristics and properties of enantiomers 371
6.2.3 Biological activity of enantiomers 372
6.2.4 Methods of preparation of enantiomerically pure compounds 374
Bibliography 381
Index 405