Module Catalogue 2026/27

Pre Requisite Comment

N/A

Co Requisite Comment

N/A

Aims

This module has two parts. Part I levels the chemistry/chemical engineering foundational knowledge of students. The second part dives into green chemistry.

Part I:

The first part of this module will aim to enrich the chemistry knowledge in key aspects of chemistry applied to sustainable processes. Knowledge of specific chemical and biochemical processes, method and techniques relevant for the content later covered in elective modules will also be expanded. It will also introduce the fundamental principles of the chemical engineering discipline, developing an awareness of the basic principles of chemical engineering, approaches to solving engineering problems, principles of plant design and operation, and awareness of environmental and safety issues.

Part II:
The second part of the module aims to introduce students to Green Chemistry principles, practice and design.

Outline Of Syllabus

Part I:
•       Thermodynamics and kinetic effects in chemical reactions;
•       Molecular and ionic interactions;
•       Electronic structure in atoms, simple and complex molecules;
•       Bonding in extended systems – conjugation;
•       Substitution and elimination reactions;
•       Solvent effects;
•       Leaving groups;
•       Competing reactions.
•       Introduction to chemical engineering;
•       Units, dimensions, and basic physical properties;
•       Ideal gas law, partial pressure, and gas composition;
•       The laws of thermodynamics;
•       Mass and energy balances;
•       Vapour-liquid equilibrium such as vapour pressure, Henry’s law, and Raoult’s law;
•       Fluid mechanics such as properties of fluids, flow regimes, mechanical energy balance, and pressure drop
•       Flow measurement systems, valves, and pumps;
•       Heat transfer such as modes of heat transfer, the overall heat transfer coefficient, and heat
exchangers;
•       Mass transfer such as diffusion, diffusion coefficients, and Fick’s laws of diffusion;
•       Process design such as unit operations, process flow diagram, and piping and instrumentation diagram;
•       Separation processes such as phase creation, barrier, distillation, and absorption;
•       Process safety such as hazards and hazardous incidents, hierarchy of hazard control, COSHH, and COMAH.

Part II:
•       Introduction to green chemistry and green chemistry principles;
•       Green Chemistry, the UN Development Goals and Sustainability;
•       The Green Chemistry toolbox and new conversion pathways;
•       Feedstocks and starting materials;
•       Catalysis and Green Chemistry;
•       Biocatalysis;
•       Green Solvents;
•       Processes and operations;
•       Alternative energy sources;
•       Inherent safety;
•       Evaluating the impacts of green chemistry, green chemistry metrics, and design decision frameworks.

Intended Knowledge Outcomes

Part I:
After successfully completing Part I of this module, students are expected to be able to:
•       Relate behaviour of chemical reactions with thermodynamic and kinetic theory and effects (AHEP4 M1-2);
•       Interpret the effect of molecular interactions in chemical reactions (AHEP4 M1-2);
•       Relate electron structures in atoms and molecules with their properties and reactivity (AHEP4 M1-2);
•       Formulate reaction mechanisms given commonly followed pathways (AHEP4 M1-2);
•       Generalize solvent effects in chemical reactions and separation (AHEP4 M1-2);
•       Illustrate leaving groups effects (AHEP4 M1-2);
•       Interpret the effect of competing reactions in process performance and technical design (AHEP4 M1-2);
•       Distinguish the differences between chemical engineering and other science and engineering disciplines (AHEP4 M1-2);
•       Apply units, dimensions, and basic physical properties as relevant to chemical engineering problems (AHEP4 M1-2);
•       Use the ideal gas law, partial pressure, and gas composition as relevant to chemical engineering problems (AHEP4 M1-2);
•       Employ the laws of thermodynamics in the context of chemical engineering (AHEP4 M1-2);
•       Apply mass and energy balances as needed to solve common chemical engineering problems (AHEP4 M1-2);
•       Distinguish between different fluid flow regimes (AHEP4 M1-2);
•       Apply energy balance as needed to solve common fluid flow problems and to evaluate pressure drop (AHEP4 M1-2);
•       Distinguish the differences between various flow measurement systems and different types of valves and
pumps (AHEP4 M1-2);
•       Distinguish between different modes of heat transfer as occur in chemical engineering (AHEP4 M1-2);
•       Evaluate the overall heat transfer coefficient for common chemical engineering problems (AHEP4 M1-2);
•       Apply laws of diffusion to evaluate diffusion coefficients in common mass transfer problems (AHEP4 M1-2);
•       Generate process flow diagrams and/or piping and instrumentation diagrams (AHEP4 M1-2);
•       Distinguish between different separation processes such as phase creation, barrier, distillation, and absorption (AHEP4 M1-2);
•       Analyse hazards and hazardous incidents and apply hierarchy of hazard control (AHEP4 M1-2).

Part II
After successfully completing Part II of this module, students are expected to be able to:
•       Combine green and sustainable chemistry principles and tools to design sustainable processes (AHEP4 M1, M2, M4, M7);
•       Appraise green and sustainable chemistry within a wider context of UN Sustainable Development Goals (AHEP4 M1, M2, M4 , M7);
•       Make decisions regarding feedstocks sustainability and use of alternative feedstocks (AHEP4 M2, M4, M7);
•       Calculate and appraise the mass and energy balance to a process (AHEP4 M2, M4, M7)
•       Differentiate and critically evaluate the importance of heterogeneous catalysis to green chemistry (AHEP4 M1, M2, M4 M7);
•       Identify, differentiate between green and non-green solvents and offer suitable green alternatives in
relation to their importance in chemical and related processes (AHEP4 M1, M2, M4, M7);
•       Evaluate engineering methods for improving process efficiencies (AHEP4 M2, M4, M7);
•       Critically analyse the importance of energy efficiency and the range of energy sources (AHEP4 M2, M4, M7);
•       Use and critically evaluate advanced green chemistry metrics (AHEP4 M2, M4, M7);
•       Demonstrate a high level of practical ability in the design and execution of green chemical processes (AHEP4 M2, M4, M7).

Intended Skill Outcomes

Throughout this module students will gain the following skills:
•       The ability to apply a comprehensive knowledge of mathematics, natural science, and chemical engineering
principles when undertaking practical assignments in chemical engineering industry (AHEP4 M1, M2, M4);
•       Engineering practice skills required to critically evaluate relevant sources of information to solve various chemical engineering problems (AHEP4 M2, M4, M7, M17).

Teaching Rationale And Relationship

The module is delivered by a combination of present in-person lectures and tutorials, supplemented by reading materials which include research articles and process development case studies. Lectures convey the fundamental scientific concepts. Tutorial classes support the lecture material through practical examples. Tutorial questions will be attempted by students during teaching sessions where the lecturer will be moving between students providing feedback on their learning. Model solutions will be provided for tutorial questions so to enable students to compare and validate their solutions.

Assessment Rationale And Relationship

The written examination assesses the basic understanding and the ability to deploy the concepts learnt throughout the module in solving common chemistry and chemical engineering problems under time constraint as required in industry (AHEP4 M1, M2, M4).

The in course assignment allows for a realistic open ended green chemistry and engineering problem to be investigated and solved (AHEP4 M2, M4, M7, M17).

Formative assessments allow students to check knowledge throughout the module (AHEP4 M1, M2, M4, M7).

General Notes

N/A