Title Details

Dr Kamelia Boodhoo, Newcastle University, UK.
Dr Boodhoo's research in the area of Process Intensification focuses on the development of centrifugal field reactors with particular emphasis on Spinning Disc Reactors. She also has a keen interest in intensification applications involving green chemistry and engineering and renewable resources such as the use of biomass for biopolymers. Dr Boodhoo has been involved in designing and delivering a specialist module on Process Intensification targeted at final year MEng students and MSc students at Newcastle University. For the last two years, she has also been a guest lecturer on the MSc in Green Chemistry and Sustainable Industrial Technology programme at the University of York, teaching "Improved Reactor Designs through Process intensification".

Dr Adam Harvey, Newcastle University, UK.
Dr Harvey is an active member of the Process Intensification Group at Newcastle. He is a member of the steering committee of the international research network "Process Intensification Network" and co-author of "Process Intensification", published in 2008. He currently lectures on Oscillatory Flow Reactors as part of the Process Intensification module delivered to final year MEng and MSc students.

Preface xv

1 Process Intensification: An Overview of Principles and Practice 1
Kamelia Boodhoo and Adam Harvey

1.1 Introduction 1

1.2 Process Intensification: Definition and Concept 2

1.3 Fundamentals of Chemical Engineering Operations 3

1.3.1 Reaction Engineering 3

1.3.2 Mixing Principles 5

1.3.3 Transport Processes 8

1.4 Intensification Techniques 11

1.4.1 Enhanced Transport Processes 11

1.4.2 Integrating Process Steps 19

1.4.3 Moving from Batch to Continuous Processing 20

1.5 Merits of PI Technologies 21

1.5.1 Business 22

1.5.2 Process 22

1.5.3 Environment 23

1.6 Challenges to Implementation of PI 24

1.7 Conclusion 25

Nomenclature 26

Greek Letters 26

References 27

2 Green Chemistry Principles 33
James Clark, Duncan Macquarrie, Mark Gronnow and Vitaly Budarin

2.1 Introduction 33

2.1.1 Sustainable Development and Green Chemistry 35

2.2 The Twelve Principles of Green Chemistry 35

2.2.1 Ideals of Green Chemistry 36

2.3 Metrics for Chemistry 37

2.3.1 Effective Mass Yield 38

2.3.2 Carbon Efficiency 38

2.3.3 Atom Economy 38

2.3.4 Reaction Mass Efficiency 39

2.3.5 Environmental (E) Factor 39

2.3.6 Comparison of Metrics 40

2.4 Catalysis and Green Chemistry 41

2.4.1 Case Study: Silica as a Catalyst for Amide Formation 43

2.4.2 Case Study: Mesoporous Carbonaceous Material as a Catalyst Support 45

2.5 Renewable Feedstocks and Biocatalysis 46

2.5.1 Case Study: Wheat Straw Biorefinery 48

2.6 An Overview of Green Chemical Processing Technologies 50

2.6.1 Alternative Reaction Solvents for Green Processing 50

2.6.2 Alternative Energy Reactors for Green Chemistry 52

2.7 Conclusion 55

References 55

3 Spinning Disc Reactor: Continuous Thin-film Flow Processing for Green Chemistry Applications 59
Kamelia Boodhoo

3.1 Introduction 59

3.2 Design and Operating Features of SDRs 60

3.2.1 Hydrodynamics 63

3.2.2 SDR Scale-up Strategies 64

3.3 Characteristics of SDRs 66

3.3.1 Thin-film Flow and Surface Waves 66

3.3.2 Heat and Mass Transfer 68

3.3.3 Mixing Characteristics 71

3.3.4 Residence Time and Residence Time Distribution 72

3.3.5 SDR Applications 75

3.4 Case Studies: SDR Application for Green Chemical Processing and Synthesis 76

3.4.1 Cationic Polymerization using Heterogeneous Lewis Acid Catalysts 76

3.4.2 Solvent-free Photopolymerization Processing 78

3.4.3 Heterogeneous Catalytic Organic Reaction in the SDR: An Example of Application to the Pharmaceutical/Fine Chemicals Industry 80

3.4.4 Green Synthesis of Nanoparticles 83

3.5 Hurdles to Industry Implementation 84

3.5.1 Control, Monitoring and Modelling of SDR Processes 84

3.5.2 Limited Process Throughputs 86

3.5.3 Cost and Availability of Equipment 86

3.5.4 Lack of Awareness of SDR Technology 86

3.6 Conclusion 86

Nomenclature 87

Greek Letters 87

Subscripts 87

References 87

4 Micro Process Technology and Novel Process Windows – Three Intensification Fields 91
Svetlana Borukhova and Volker Hessel

4.1 Introduction 91

4.2 Transport Intensification 93

4.2.1 Fundamentals 93

4.2.2 Mixing Principles 94

4.2.3 Micromixers 96

4.2.4 Micro Heat Exchangers 102

4.2.5 Exothermic Reactions as Major Application Examples 106

4.3 Chemical Intensification 108

4.3.1 Fundamentals 108

4.3.2 New Chemical Transformations 108

4.3.3 High Temperature 118

4.3.4 High Pressure 122

4.3.5 Alternative Reaction Media 124

4.4 Process Design Intensification 128

4.4.1 Fundamentals 128

4.4.2 Large-scale Manufacture of Adipic Acid – A Full Process Design Vision in Flow 130

4.4.3 Process Integration – From Single Operation towards Full Process Design 131

4.4.4 Process Simplification 135

4.5 Industrial Microreactor Process Development 137

4.5.1 Industrial Demonstration of Specialty/Pharma Chemistry Flow Processing 138

4.5.2 Industrial Demonstration of Fine Chemistry Flow Processing 138

4.5.3 Industrial Demonstration of Bulk Chemistry Flow Processing 139

4.6 Conclusion 140

Acknowledgement 141

References 141

5 Green Chemistry in Oscillatory Baffled Reactors 157
Adam Harvey

5.1 Introduction 157

5.1.1 Continuous versus Batch Operation 157

5.1.2 The Oscillatory Baffled Reactor’s ‘Niche’ 157

5.2 Case Studies: OBR Green Chemistry 164

5.2.1 A Saponification Reaction 164

5.2.2 A Three-phase Reaction with Photoactivation for Oxidation of Waste Water Contaminants 166

5.2.3 ‘Mesoscale’ OBRs 168

5.3 Conclusion 170

References 172

6 Monolith Reactors for Intensified Processing in Green Chemistry 175
Joseph Wood

6.1 Introduction 175

6.2 Design of Monolith Reactors 176

6.2.1 Monolith and Washcoat Design 176

6.2.2 Reactor and Distributor Design 178

6.3 Hydrodynamics of Monolith Reactors 179

6.3.1 Flow Regimes 179

6.3.2 Mixing and Mass Transfer 180

6.4 Advantages of Monolith Reactors 182

6.4.1 Scale-out, Not Scale-up? 182

6.4.2 PI for Green Chemistry 183

6.5 Applications in Green Chemistry 185

6.5.1 Chemical and Fine Chemical Industry 185

6.5.2 Cleaner Production of Fuels 187

6.5.3 Removal of Toxic Emissions 188

6.6 Conclusion 192

Acknowledgement 193

Nomenclature 193

Greek Letters 193

Subscripts and Superscripts 193

References 193

7 Process Intensification and Green Processing Using Cavitational Reactors 199
Vijayanand Moholkar, Parag Gogate and Aniruddha Pandit

7.1 Introduction 199

7.2 Mechanism of Cavitation-based PI of Chemical Processing 200

7.3 Reactor Configurations 201

7.3.1 Sonochemical Reactors 201

7.3.2 Hydrodynamic Cavitation Reactors 205

7.4 Mathematical Modelling 207

7.5 Optimization of Operating Parameters in Cavitational Reactors 209

7.5.1 Sonochemical Reactors 209

7.5.2 Hydrodynamic Cavitation Reactors 210

7.6 Intensification of Cavitational Activity 211

7.6.1 Use of PI Parameters 212

7.6.2 Use of a Combination of Cavitation and Other Processes 213

7.7 Case Studies: Intensification of Chemical Synthesis using Cavitation 214

7.7.1 Transesterification of Vegetable Oils Using Alcohol 214

7.7.2 Selective Synthesis of Sulfoxides from Sulfides Using Sonochemical Reactors 217

7.8 Overview of Intensification and Green Processing Using Cavitational Reactors 218

7.9 The Future 221

7.10 Conclusion 222

References 222

8 Membrane Bioreactors for Green Processing in a Sustainable Production System 227
Rosalinda Mazzei, Emma Piacentini, Enrico Drioli and Lidietta Giorno

8.1 Introduction 227

8.2 Membrane Bioreactors 228

8.2.1 Membrane Bioreactors with Biocatalyst Recycled in the Retentate Stream 228

8.2.2 Membrane Bioreactors with Biocatalyst Segregated in the Membrane Module Space 230

8.3 Biocatalytic Membrane Reactors 230

8.3.1 Entrapment 230

8.3.2 Gelification 231

8.3.3 Chemical Attachment 231

8.4 Case Studies: Membrane Bioreactors 232

8.4.1 Biofuel Production Using Enzymatic Transesterification 233

8.4.2 Waste Water Treatment and Reuse 237

8.4.3 Waste Valorization to Produce High-added-value Compounds 239

8.5 Green Processing Impact of Membrane Bioreactors 245

8.6 Conclusion 247

References 247

9 Reactive Distillation 251
Anton Kiss

9.1 Introduction 251

9.2 Principles of RD 252

9.3 Design, Control and Applications 253

9.4 Modelling RD 256

9.5 Economical and Technical Evaluation 257

9.5.1 Economical Evaluation 257

9.5.2 Technical Evaluation 260

9.6 Case Studies: RD 261

9.6.1 Biodiesel Production by Heat-Integrated RD 261

9.6.2 Fatty Ester Synthesis by Dual RD 267

9.7 Green Processing Impact of RD 270

9.8 Conclusion 271

References 271

10 Reactive Extraction Technology 275
Keat T. Lee and Steven Lim

10.1 Introduction 275

10.1.1 Definition and Description 275

10.1.2 Literature Review 276

10.2 Case Studies: Reactive Extraction Technology 277

10.2.1 Reactive Extraction for the Synthesis of FAME from Jatropha curcas L. Seeds 277

10.2.2 Supercritical Reactive Extraction for FAME Synthesis from Jatropha curcas L. Seeds 281

10.3 Impact on Green Processing and Process Intensification 284

10.4 Conclusion 286

References 286

11 Reactive Absorption 289
Anton A. Kiss

11.1 Introduction 289

11.2 Theory and Models 290

11.2.1 Equilibrium Stage Model 290

11.2.2 HTU/NTU Concepts and Enhancement Factors 291

11.2.3 Rate-based Stage Model 291

11.3 Equipment, Operation and Control 291

11.4 Applications in Gas Purification 293

11.4.1 Carbon Dioxide Capture 293

11.4.2 Sour Gas Treatment 296

11.4.3 Removal of Nitrogen Oxides 296

11.4.4 Desulfurization 297

11.4.5 Sulfuric Acid Production 299

11.4.6 Nitric Acid Production 299

11.4.7 Biodiesel and Fatty Esters Synthesis 302

11.5 Green Processing Impact of RA 307

11.6 Challenges and Future Prospects 307

References 307

12 Membrane Separations for Green Chemistry 311
Rosalinda Mazzei, Emma Piacentini, Enrico Drioli and Lidietta Giorno

12.1 Introduction 311

12.2 Membranes and Membrane Processes 312

12.3 Case Studies: Membrane Operations in Green Processes 318

12.3.1 Membrane Technology in Metal Ion Removal from Waste Water 318

12.3.2 Membrane Operations in Acid Separation from Waste Water 330

12.3.3 Membrane Operation for Hydrocarbon Separation from Waste Water 333

12.3.4 Membrane Operations for the Production of Optically Pure Enantiomers 336

12.4 Integrated Membrane Processes 342

12.4.1 Integrated Membrane Processes for Water Desalination 342

12.4.2 Integrated Membrane Processes for the Fruit Juice Industry 343

12.5 Green Processing Impact of Membrane Processes 344

12.6 Conclusion 347

References 347

13 Process Intensification in a Business Context: General Considerations 355
Dag Eimer and Nils Eldrup

13.1 Introduction 355

13.2 The Industrial Setting 356

13.3 Process Case Study 358

13.3.1 Essential Lessons 364

13.4 Business Risk and Ideas 366

13.5 Conclusion 367

References 367

14 Process Economics and Environmental Impacts of Process Intensification in the Petrochemicals, Fine Chemicals and Pharmaceuticals Industries 369
Jan Harmsen

14.1 Introduction 369

14.2 Petrochemicals Industry 370

14.2.1 Drivers for Innovation 370

14.2.2 Conventional Technologies Used 372

14.2.3 Commercially Applied PI Technologies 372

14.3 Fine Chemicals and Pharmaceuticals Industries 376

14.3.1 Drivers for Innovation 376

14.3.2 Conventional Technologies Used 377

14.3.3 Commercially Applied PI Technologies 377

References 377

15 Opportunities for Energy Saving from Intensified Process Technologies in the Chemical and Processing Industries 379
Dena Ghiasy and Kamelia Boodhoo

15.1 Introduction 379

15.2 Energy-Intensive Processes in UK Chemical and Processing Industries 380

15.2.1 What Can PI Offer? 380

15.3 Case Study: Assessment of the Energy Saving Potential of SDR Technology 383

15.3.1 Basis for Comparison 384

15.3.2 Batch Process Energy Usage 384

15.3.3 Batch/SDR Combined Energy Usage 386

15.3.4 Energy Savings 389

15.4 Conclusion 389

Nomenclature 390

Greek Letters 390

Subscripts 390

Appendix: Physical Properties of Styrene, Toluene and Cooling/Heating Fluids 391

References 391

16 Implementation of Process Intensification in Industry 393
Jan Harmsen

16.1 Introduction 393

16.2 Practical Considerations for Commercial Implementation 393

16.2.1 Reactive Distillation 394

16.2.2 Dividing Wall Column Distillation 396

16.2.3 Reverse Flow Reactors 396

16.2.4 Microreactors 397

16.2.5 Rotating Packed Bed Reactors 397

16.3 Scope for Implementation in Various Process Industries 397

16.3.1 Oil Refining and Bulk Chemicals 397

16.3.2 Fine Chemicals and Pharmaceuticals Industries 398

16.3.3 Biomass Conversion 399

16.4 Future Prospects 399

References 399

Index 401