INDUSTRIAL CHEMISTRY 1 AND LABORATORY

The course is part of the activities of the three-year degree course in Chemistry and Sustainable Technologies. The course aims to provide students with the basic knowledge necessary to face the world of work: in particular, it will be analyzed the theoretical and practical aspects of chemical-industrial processes, by considering the raw materials, the synthesis, the engineering of chemical plants, the economy and the safety .
This requires a basic multidisciplinary knowledge ranging from chemistry to physics, mathematics, to the material science. This allows the student to be able to better deal with the study of industrial chemistry and acquire the ability to perform calculations of chemical kinetics and thermodynamics applied to the production processes.

1. Knowledge and understanding
Knowledge of the main laws and the main concepts of thermodynamics and reaction kinetics applied to process engineering. Knowledge of principles of chemical reactor and process control. Knowledge of the principles of catalysis and chemical reactions involved in the main industrial productions. Understanding of the environmental impact and critical points of the plants taken into consideration.
2. Ability to apply knowledge and understanding
Knowing how to solve theoretical and practical problems concerning the choice, the sizing of an industrial reactor. Knowing how to create and organize a collection of experimental data related to reaction kinetics. Knowing how to synthesize and characterize a homogeneous or heterogeneous catalyst. Choose the best reactor and process conditions for sustainable processes.
3. Judgment skills
Know how to evaluate and recognize the type of process used in the industrial production of a given product. Recognize the characteristics of the plant and the integration of the same in an industrial chemical pole also with reference to the environmental impact and the sustainability of the process. Being able to recognize errors through a critical analysis of the process.
4. Communication skills
Knowing how to communicate the knowledge learned and the result of their application using appropriate terminology, both oral and written. Knowing how to interact with the teacher and with the classmates, also with a view to joining a team.
5. Learning skills
Knowing how to take notes, selecting and collecting information according to their importance and priority. Being able to be sufficiently autonomous in the application and in the critical evaluation of the themes proposed in the theoretical part.

To have reached the training objectives of the courses of General Chemistry, Physical Chemistry mod. 1 and Physical Chemistry mod. 2 . The students must know the chemical and physical principles of the catalysis and must be familiar with the principles of general chemistry.

General aspects of the chemical industry.
Logistical and practical aspects of an industrial chemical hub.
Safety issues and environmental impact in plants at risk of major accidents.
Problems and technological aspects of the chemical industry.
Evaluation of production costs.
Definitions of the concept of sustainability.
The chronological stages of sustainable development.
Sustainability of industrial chemical systems.
Unit Operations.
Elements of chemical process engineering.
Material balances and energy balances.
Elements of chemical reactors (ideal reactors BR, PFR, CSTR).
Choice of process parameters: thermodynamic and kinetic evaluations of the chemical reaction.
Use of homogeneous and heterogeneous catalysts in the chemical industry.
Kinetic and diffusive controlled reactions.
The sources of raw materials.
Fossil fuels
Introduction to petrochemistry.
Analysis of the synthesis gas production process.
Analysis of the ammonia production process.
Fractional air distillation.
Analysis of the nitric acid production process.
Analysis of the acetocyanhydrin production process.
Analysis of the Chlorine-soda process.

1 Appunti di lezione.
2. O. Levenspiel, Chemical Reaction Engineering, John Wiley & Sons
3. L.Berti, M. Calatozzolo, R. DI Bartolo, Aspetti teorici e pratici dei processi chimici, G. D'Anna, ed. 1983.
4. F. Cavani, G. Centi, M. Di Serio, I. Rossetti, A. Salvini, G. Strukul, Fondamenti di chimica industriale (Materie prime - Prodotti - Processi – Sostenibilità), Zanichelli, 2022.

The method of the learning assessment consists of an oral test in which it will be verified that the student has acquired the concepts presented during the lessons and knows how to apply them to the problems proposed by the teacher in some practical exercises.
Through a series of questions concerning both parts of the course (module 1 and module 2 laboratory), the student will have to demonstrate both the learning of the topics and the ability to expose them formally.
The oral exam lasts about 30 minutes and must be sustained on the dates during the exam session, agreed with the teacher.
To pass the exam with the minimum mark (18/30), the candidate must have acquired the basic concepts relating to the industrial production of chemical substances.
In particular, the student must demonstrate:
- to know the chemistry, the thermodynamic, and the catalytic aspects, relate to the chemical production under examination;
- to know the solutions adopted in the chemical industry;
- to know the aspects of sustainability and safety of the production processes.
- to know the logistical needs, the economic aspects, and the environmental impact related to the management of an industrial chemical hub.
The mark may be increased up to the maximum (30/30), if this knowledge is correctly applied to the description of the industrial processes analyzed during the course, by answering two further questions (maximum 6/30 per answer), related to:
1 Production and characterization of homogeneous and heterogeneous catalysts.
Influence of transport phenomena on the activity and selectivity of catalysts.
Deactivation and poisoning phenomena.
Catalytic reactions conducted in industrial reactors and description of a specific process in which catalysts are used.
2 Criteria for choosing process parameters for a specific chemical production.
Material and energy balances applied to industrial chemical reactors.
Parameters that regulate continuous and discontinuous production
Reactor sizing.
Examples of industrial applications
Honors will be awarded if the candidate highlights his acquired competence during the interview by proposing the most appropriate solutions to real problems linked to the processes studied.

oral

The student will have to demonstrate learning of the topics covered both in lectures and during laboratory experiences, by answering a series of questions.
The grades will be graduated according to the following bands:
1 Rejected: The candidate does not have the minimum preparation required in point 2.
2 Promotion with a grade of 18/30-20/30: The candidate will have to demonstrate that he/she has acquired the basic concepts of the teaching relating to the technical-economic and safety issues of large-scale industrial production. In particular, knowledge regarding the logistical needs, economic aspects and environmental impact related to the management of an industrial chemical hub is required. Furthermore, the candidate will have to discuss an example of his/her choice among those studied in which catalytic reactions are conducted in industrial reactors.
3 The grade may be increased up to 21/30-25/30 if the candidate demonstrates during the exam that he/she knows and applies the chemical, thermodynamic, kinetic, and catalytic aspects that regulate the reaction under examination.
4 The grade may be increased up to 26/30-28/30 if the candidate competently describes during the exam the plant solutions and interventions in terms of sustainability and safety adopted in the production processes studied, which include: the production process of synthesis gas, ammonia, nitric acid, sulfuric acid, acetone cyanohydrin and chlorine-soda and the fractional distillation of air. Furthermore, he/she must demonstrate knowledge of the production and characterization methods of homogeneous and heterogeneous catalysts, and of the influence of transport phenomena on the activity and selectivity of catalysts.
5 The grade may be increased up to 29/30-30/30, if the candidate during the exam explains with competence and mastery of language the criteria for choosing the process parameters for a considered chemical production, combining them with the calculation and application of the design equation and the related material and energy balances.
6 Honors will be awarded only if the candidate has demonstrated mastery of the topics studied throughout the exam and ease of connection between the various scientific disciplines and their respective applications in production processes.

Teaching is organized in lectures, including problem-solving exercises.
In the "moodle" platform of the University there is teaching material (material projected in the classroom).

Accessibility, Disability, and Inclusion
Accommodation and support services for students with disabilities and students with specific learning impairments:
Ca’ Foscari abides by Italian Law (Law 17/1999; Law 170/2010) regarding support
services and accommodation available to students with disabilities. This includes students with mobility, visual, hearing, and other disabilities (Law 17/1999), and specific learning impairments (Law 170/2010). In the case of disability or impairment that requires accommodations (i.e., alternate testing, readers, note-takers, or interpreters) please contact the Disability and Accessibility Offices in Student Services: disabilita@unive.it.

This subject deals with topics related to the macro-area "Circular economy, innovation, work" and contributes to the achievement of one or more goals of U. N. Agenda for Sustainable Development