DIOLA, Grazel Mae E.

April 12, 2019

BS Chemical Engineering IV
Separation Processes

Stage-wise Operations 

An operation which can be analyzed or characterized on the basis of equilibrium

stages. An equilibrium stage is a contacting step in which two continuously flowing
phases are intimately contacted to facilitate transfer of heat and mass, and then
separated. The contact must be “complete” so that the phases are in thermodynamic
equilibrium after the separation. Two ways to interconnect stages: counter-current
and cross-current Countercurrent flow Cross-current flow

Various Mixture Separation Processes

Adsorption is a process that occurs when a gas or liquid solute accumulates on

the surface of a solid or a liquid (adsorbent), forming a molecular or atomic film (the
adsorbate). It is different from absorption, in which a substance diffuses into a liquid
or solid to form a solution. The term sorption encompasses both processes, while
desorption is the reverse process.

Crystallization is the (natural or artificial) process of formation of solid crystals

from a uniform solution. Crystallization is also a chemical solid-liquid sepation
technique, in which mass transfer of a solute from the liquid solution to a pure solid
crystalline phase occurs.

Distillation is a technique used to separate mixtures of liquids. It is a method of

separating chemical substances based on differences in their volatilities in a boiling
liquid mixture. Distillation usually forms part of a larger chemical process, and is
thus reffered to as a unit operation.

Leaching is the process of extracting a substance from a solid by dissolving it in

a liquid. Brewing of tea and coffee can similarly be considered as leaching process,

Solvent Extraction, also known as liquid-liquid extraction, is a method to

separate compounds based on their relative solubilities in two different immiscible
liquids, usually water and an organic solvent. It is an extraction of a substance from
one liquid phase into another liquid phase. Liquid-liquid extraction is a basic
technique in chemical laboratories, where it is performed using a separatory funnel .

Industries uses such operations

Crystallization is one of the most widely used technologies in chemical industry,

and process robustness governs process productivity and economics. In particular, the
pharmaceutical and food sectors are utilizing crystallization for optimized separation,
purification, and solid form selection.

Distillation is widely used in industries that refine oil, desalinate water, create
liquor, beer and wine, and produce many chemical products used in homes and
factories.
 In the food industry, leaching can be used to obtain sugar from beets using hot
water, vegetable oils from seeds with organic solvents, dyes, alcohol, and countless
chemical processes within the pharmaceutical industry to prepare potions,
metallurgical and agribusiness products. Even everyday processes such as the
preparation of a soluble coffee or tea use the concept of the leaching process. In the
mining industry, leaching is a simple, effective and clean process that can be applied
to extract precious metals like gold and silver using basic solutions with cyanide
concentrations. Base metals such as copper lead and zinc using acid solutions. Even
to harness radioactive minerals such as uranium content can be recovered through a
leaching process.

REFERENCES:

Course Hero, Inc.(2019) Introduction stage wise operations an operation.

Retrieved from https://www.coursehero.com/file/p515vo1/Introduction-Stage-wise-
Operations-An-operation-which-can-be-analyzed-or/

StudyLib (2019) Various types of separation processes. Retrieved from

https://studylib.net/doc/8709586/various-types-of-separation-processes

Syrris Ltd. (2019) Crystallization. Retrieved from

https://syrris.com/applications/what-is-crystallization-and-what-are-the-methods-of-
crystallization/

Leaf Group Ltd. (2019) What Are the Uses of Distillation in Industry? Retrieved
from https://bizfluent.com/about-5941994-uses-distillation-industry-.html

Leaching. Retrieved from http://www.idc-

online.com/technical_references/pdfs/civil_engineering/Leaching.pdf