Elements of Unit Operations and Chemical Reactors

This textbook covers the elements of unit operations (distillation, extraction, heat exchangers, evaporators, absorption columns, humidification processes) along with related momentum, energy, and mass transport phenomena, as well as chemical reactors (ideal and non-ideal, including extensions to non-isothermal conditions and reaction networks). The book’s focus is on fundamental principles – it is designed for readers approaching this subject for the first time, presenting topics in a way that is simple enough to grasp yet rigorous enough to provide the tools needed for detailed analysis later. Theoretical concepts are interspersed with worked exercises, sufficient to bridge theory with practical case studies.

Fabio Montagnaro is Professor in Chemical Plants. He obtained the Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering in the A.Y. 2001-02. His main scientific activities deal with: 1) thermochemical solar energy storage processes; 2) biomass thermo-conversion processes to produce energy vectors; 3) purification of gaseous streams from pollutants and greenhouse agents; 4) liquid–solid and gas–solid adsorption processes; 5) synthesis of innovative/eco-sustainable binders; 6) re-use of solid wastes of different nature; 7) chemical processes in fluidised bed reactors; and 8) design and modelling of chemical reactors and plants. Member of scientific organisations, in the editorial board of peer-reviewed journals, chair of scientific conferences, he also authored for Springer Nature the textbook entitled “Sustainable Energy Production Using Solid Materials”. His bibliometric parameters can be retrieved, e.g., on Scopus database (Author ID 57203682959), and his full vitae at www.docenti.unina.it/fabio.montagnaro.

Marco Balsamo is Associate Professor in Chemical Plants. He obtained his Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering in the A.Y. 2012-13. His main scientific activities deal with: 1) purification of liquid and gaseous effluents by means of adsorption processes; 2) synthesis of non-conventional sorbents (e.g., ionic liquid and mixed metal oxides supported onto porous materials) and their chemico-physical and microstructural characterisation; 3) mathematical modelling of liquid–solid and gas–solid reactive processes; and 4) energetic valorisation of biomasses via gasification and hydrothermal liquefaction. He is Scientific Coordinator and Task Leader of research projects and Guest Editor for peer-reviewed journals. His bibliometric parameters can be retrieved, e.g., on Scopus database (Author ID 36157825400), and his full vitae at www.docenti.unina.it/marco.balsamo.

Francesca Di Lauro is Assistant Professor in Chemical Plants. She obtained the Ph.D. in Chemical Sciences in the A.Y. 2022-23. Her main scientific activities are focused on: 1) chemical processes in fluidised bed reactors; 2) thermochemical solar energy storage processes; 3) biomass thermo-conversion processes to produce energy vectors; and 4) waste valorisation. She participates into research projects and has been speaker at several international conferences. Her bibliometric parameters can be retrieved, e.g., on Scopus database (Author ID 57210410141), and her full vitae at www.docenti.unina.it/francesca.dilauro2.