Unit Process - American Chemical Society

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chemical reaction is applied economically on an industrial scale. It is to be hoped that more work will be done on obtaining data and in formulating equations that can be applied to the chemistry involved in many more of the3e unit processes. It is the desire of those sponsoring these unit process symposia to encourage all phases involved in unit processes, but none seems of more present importance than to elaborate these quantitative aspects. In this particular symposium we are fortunate in ha\ ing not only the usual contributions to the chemistry of some of these unit processes or the apparatus involved, but also several papers concerned with the more fundamental energy concepts and calculations. This phase of our research and study should be encouraged, since some of us think it is possible to expect eventually to have data and formulas on which to base definite predictions concerning the quantitative course of reactions. All of this will be of inestimable value to those engaged in the industrial application of chemical changes. R. NORRISSHREVE

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fundamental significance of the chemichange involved in unit processes is only too apparent in the cost of the manufacture of chemical products. Because of this, great efforts are always made to improve these chemical yields. To bring unit processes within the fold of traditional engineering practice and to improve yields, more quantitative aspects are needed. For instance, in the field of alkylation we would like to have formulas that we could apply to these alkylations in order to determine definitely the influence of all the factors upon the yields. With these in hand, the design and the operation of the plants involving chemical changes would be greatly facilitated. This is likewise desirable in all unit processes, whether they be alk3lations, aminations, nitrations, oxidations, or the like. In certain fields quantitative formulations of the reaction changes as they affect yields are fairly me11 known-for instance, in the oxidation to sulfur dioxide or trioxide and in the hydrogenation of nitrogen to ammonia. These formulas are very helpful, and with their use we can more readily complete the cycle involved in unit processes where the

Design and Development

Frank C. Vilbrandt

253

Manufacture of Isoamyl Chloride

Auburn A. Ross and Francis E. Bibbins 255 Mononitration of p-Cymene

Kenneth A. Kobe and Thomas F. Doumani 257 Reduction of 2-Nitro-p-Cymene

Thomas F. Doumani and Kenneth A. Kobe 264 Equilibria, Reaction Rates, and Yields i n Unit Processes

Raymond H. Ewe11 261 Application of Reaction Kinetics to Process Design

Louis S. Kassel 275 Ethylation and Hydroxylation

T h e eight papers which follow were presented a t a symposium on Unit Processes before the Division of Industrial and Engineering Chemistry a t t h e 96th Meeting of the American Chemical Society, Milwaukee. Wis., September 5 t o 9, 1938.

MARCH, 1939

Harry McCormack and G. J. Stockman 278 Acid Catalysis i n Liquid Ammonia

V. F. Balaty, L. L. Fellinger, and L. F. Audrieth

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251

252

INDUSTRIAL AND ENGINEERING CHEMISTRY

VOL. 31, NO. 3