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CHIM-Y402

Unit operations

academic year
2026-2027

Course teacher(s)

Tom VAN ASSCHE (Coordinator) and Joeri DENAYER

ECTS credits

7

Language(s) of instruction

english

Course content

Unit operations (vub.be)
 

This course deals with a selected number of separation processes found in chemical and related industries. The theory part of the course covers topics as: Flash distillation, binary and multicomponent multi stage distillation (rigourous, short cut and graphical methods), calculation of vapour - liquid and liquid - liquid equilibria, hydrodynamic calculation of stage columns, absorption, calculation of packed bed towers, extraction and leaching, membrane processes.

The practical (WPO) part of the course covers exercise sessions and lab sessions.

Objectives (and/or specific learning outcomes)

Unit operations (vub.be)

The students should acquire a deep knowledge of unit operations as distillation, absorption, extraction, membrane processes. Students should be able to apply basic knowledge of science and engineering science (thermodynamics, kinetics, transport phenomena, ..) in practical unit operations, especially on column processes, both stage columns as continuous columns. The accent is on the ability to apply knowledge and understanding.

This course is part of the common trunk of the Master of Applied Sciences and Engineering: Chemistry and Materials. The following learning goals and competences are aimed for:

Students are able to explain the operating principles and design basics of covered unit operations 

Students can apply mathematical methods and graphical techniques to design covered unit operations

Teaching methods and learning activities

Unit operations (vub.be)

Theory classes (36h)

WPO exercise sessions (12h)
WPO lab sessions (36h in 9 sessions) 

Contribution to the teaching profile

Unit operations (vub.be)

This course contributes to reaching the following learning objectives:

The Master of Sciences in Chemical and Materials Engineering has in-depth knowledge and understanding of

MA_2   integrated structural design methods in the framework of a global design strategy

MA_3   the advanced methods and theories to schematize and model complex problems or processes            

The Master of Sciences in Chemical and Materials Engineering can

MA_4   reformulate complex engineering problems in order to solve them (simplifying assumptions, reducing complexity)

MA_8   collaborate in a (multidisciplinary) team

The Master of Sciences in Chemical and Materials Engineering has

MA_15 the flexibility and adaptability to work in an international and/or intercultural context

Other information

Contacts

Tom Van Assche (tom.van.assch@vub.be)
Joeri Denayer

Campus

Plaine

Evaluation

Method(s) of evaluation

  • Oral examination
  • Other

Oral examination

Other

The final grade is composed based on the following categories:
- Oral exam with written preparation
Open book preparation

- Practical Assignment (WPO): comprising exercises and lab session
Lab sessions are graded on cooperation (individual mark) and written reports (group mark).
Presence on lab sessions is compulsory. Illegitimate absence leads to 0/20 for the session
Partial marks for the lab sessions and exercises, if the student obtains at least half of the score (for this part), are transferred to the second session, and to the next academic year. Students may not relinquish partial marks.

Mark calculation method (including weighting of intermediary marks)

The final grade is composed based on the following categories:
Oral Exam determines 75% of the final mark.
PRAC Practical Assignment determines 25% of the final mark.

Within the Oral Exam category, the following assignments need to be completed:

  • oral exam with a relative weight of 1 which comprises 75% of the final mark.

    Note: Oral exam with written preparation (75%)

Within the PRAC Practical Assignment category, the following assignments need to be completed:

  • permanent assessment with a relative weight of 1 which comprises 25% of the final mark.

    Note: Practica: permanent assessment; no examination (25%)

Language(s) of evaluation

  • english

Programmes