Separative Chemistry

The purpose of this course in separation chemistry is to introduce the various concepts necessary for the study of separation chemistry. The goal is to present the role of the different interactions present in complex systems, as well as their role in separation. The experimental measurement of these various effects, their practical representation, and their connection to interfacial phenomena are also covered.

Hourly volumes*:

CM: 12:00 p.m.

TD: 8 H

The goal is to provide future master’s degree graduates with a solid foundation of knowledge to describe the processes used in separative chemistry. Particular emphasis will be placed on the role of weak interactions and the structure of the complex systems involved.

General Chemistry – Thermodynamics – Chemistry of Solutions

Final exam, with a possible second session.

Overview of Separative Chemistry

History of Element Separation – Role of Ions – Dynamic and Equilibrium Methods – Hydrometallurgy – Liquid-Liquid Extraction – Extractants – Connection to Chemical Engineering – Weak Interactions – Role of Entropy - Dilution laws – Phase diagram – Covalent, metallic, hydrogen-bond, electrostatic, and Van der Waals interactions; Hamaker’s approach – Role of the medium and the solvent – Physical chemistry of soft matter

II Osmosis and the Measurement of Weak Interactions

Van’t Hoff’s Law for Osmosis – Rationale – Effect of Pressure – Applications: “blue” energy, reverse osmosis, equilibrium in living cells, preservation, environment – Osmolarity scales – Osmotic coefficient – Measurement of molar mass – Measurement of equilibrium constant – Role of the standard state associated with the solvent – Debye-Huckel theory – Models for the activity of concentrated solutions – Application to the separation of f-elements

III Soft Objects

Colloids – Classification – Mesomorphic phases – Liquid crystals – Polymers: size effects, branching, copolymers, chain length, solvent effects, demixing, role of entropic effects

IV The Forces at Play

Dispersion forces – Connection to the Hamaker approach – Role of geometry – Gouy-Chapman theory of the charged double layer – Poisson-Boltzmann equation – DLVO approach – Application to suspension stability – Micellization – Pseudo-phase and chemical equilibrium – Hydrophilic/hydrophobic and solvophilic/solvophobic interactions – Depletion – Brazil nut effect – Surface tension: origin, Gibbs relation, and relevance to separative chemistry – Role of spontaneous curvature effects – Applications to extractants – Emulsions and microemulsions

Administrative contact(s):

Master's in Chemistry Office

https://master-chimie.edu.umontpellier.fr/