CME3033 : Separation Processes 2
- Offered for Year: 2026/27
- Module Leader(s): Dr Wenting Hu
- Lecturer: Dr Vladimir Zivkovic, Dr Maria Vicevic
- Owning School: Engineering
- Teaching Location: Newcastle City Campus
Semesters
Your programme is made up of credits, the total differs on programme to programme.
| Semester 1 Credit Value: | 15 |
| ECTS Credits: | 8.0 |
| European Credit Transfer System | |
Aims
The aim of this module is to give the participants an understanding of separation process technology currently used in the modern chemical industry.
This module gives an overview of the technology and design methods for industrially important separation techniques such as adsorption-based processes, advanced distillation, liquid-liquid extraction, membrane separation processes and solids separation.
Outline Of Syllabus
Adsorption
• Adsorption isotherms
• Chromatography
• Gas adsorption
• Ion exchange
Advanced Distillation
• Multi-component scrubbing and stripping
• Multi-component distillation
Liquid-liquid extraction*
• Liquid-liquid equilibrium
• Single equilibrium stage extraction
• Cross flow and counter flow cascade
Membranes
• Membrane operating principles and membrane characteristics
• Gas permeation
• Ultrafiltration
• Reverse osmosis
Solids handling
• Filtration
• Centrifuges
• Sedimenters
• Cyclones and hydro cyclones
*The following content will be delivered to students who completed CME2022 in AY2024-25 or earlier instead of liquid-liquid extraction
Azeotropic distillation for
• Pressure sensitive binary homogeneous azeotropic systems
• Binary heterogeneous azeotropic systems
• Pressure insensitive binary homogeneous azeotropic systems
Teaching Methods
Teaching Activities
| Category | Activity | Number | Length | Student Hours | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Guided Independent Study | Assessment preparation and completion | 1 | 2:00 | 2:00 | End of semester examination |
| Guided Independent Study | Assessment preparation and completion | 1 | 10:00 | 10:00 | Revision |
| Scheduled Learning And Teaching Activities | Lecture | 30 | 1:00 | 30:00 | Module content delivery |
| Scheduled Learning And Teaching Activities | Small group teaching | 18 | 1:00 | 18:00 | Tutorials and drop-in sessions/consultation |
| Guided Independent Study | Independent study | 1 | 90:00 | 90:00 | Review lecture material, prepare for small group teaching, completion of optional formative practice |
| Total | 150:00 |
Teaching Rationale And Relationship
The lectures explain key concepts and outline illustrative examples. Tutorial and assessed problems will develop the student’s understanding of the subject area. Drop in sessions offer students the opportunity to personalize their learning through one-to-one consultations.
Assessment Methods
The format of resits will be determined by the Board of Examiners
Exams
| Description | Length | Semester | When Set | Percentage | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Written Examination | 120 | 1 | A | 100 | N/A |
Assessment Rationale And Relationship
The written examination will assess students’ understanding of the basic principles of the separation processes studied in this module, as well as their ability to apply these principles to design appropriate units. The examination consists of two sections. Students should answer all questions in Section A, and students can choose to answer a subset of questions offered in Section B (EngC LO C1, C2, C3, C13).
Reading Lists
Timetable
- Timetable Website: www.ncl.ac.uk/timetable/
- CME3033's Timetable