Programs → Courses

Introduction to the chemical plants manufacturing processes and araw materials processing at large scale of: Chemicals, petroleum products, food, drugs, and wastes. Discussion of the chemical-process stem transformation of raw materials into desired end products, processing equipment, process flow diagram and schemcatic representation of the physical and chemcial process interactions to carry out the overall transformation. Evaluation of the economic performance of different manufactuirng options to reach the optimal or best solution. Evaluation of environmental, health and sagety criteria as other considerations int he maufacturing steps. Discussion of ethical considerations int eh maufacturing engineers profession.

Heat transfer principles, including multidimensional flow and unsteady state conditions, radiation heat transfer, design of exchangers, empirical relations.

Phase equilibria and equilibrium stage operations, with particular emphasis on distillation, gas absorption, humidification, and liquid-liquid extraction.

Theory, applications, and design of unit operations which are mostly employed in the pharmaceutical industry; air, water, and media sterilizations, recovery of fermentation products, aerations, agitation, crystallization, and scale-up.

Experimental studies on crystallization, drying of solids, fermentation, sterilization, validation, extraction, and filtration, using pilot plant equipment.

An introduction to chemical engineering calculations involving the laws of conservation of mass and energy.

Mathematical analysis of problems of interest in chemical engineering. Methods of interpretation and analysis of experimental data, formulation and solution of mass and energy balance equations in open and closed systems: use of Laplace transforms, error and Bessel functions, matrices, solution of problems by means of digital computers.

Introduction to mass, momentum and energy transport, and the calculation of transport coefficients. Shell momentum balances; analytical solution of problems in viscous flow; dimensional analysis. Introduction to turbulent flow. Friction factor in ducts and particulate systems. Macroscopic balances, application to the design of chemical engineering systems.

Thermodynamic principles; applications of the first and second laws of thermodynamics to the solution of chemical engineering problems; thermodynamic properties of fluids.

Emphasis on thermodynamic functions, properties of solutions, phase equilibria, and chemical reaction equilibria.

The properties, production, and fabrication of natural and synthetic resins and polymers of industrial importance.

The principles of chemical kinetics and catalysis, and their application to reactor design and industrial processes.

Discussion and reports on special topics in chemical engineering. Involves literature searches and evaluation for the preparation of written and oral reports. Students are required to attend all seminars sponsored by the Chemical Engineering department.

The conversion of petroleum to useful derivates, with emphasis on the chemical engineering operations and equipment involved. Problems, trips.

Theory, principles and practices related to the manufacture of pharmaceutical preparations and pharmaceutical related plant and equipment design. Studies on key unit operations like powder wighing, granulating, milling, blending and compressing. Plant and equipment validation and good manufacturing practices (GMP).

Experimental studies on fluid flow and heat transfer using pilot plant equipment.

A course organized in cooperation with private industry or government to provide the student with practical experience in chemical engineering. The work performed by the student will be jointly supervised by the academic department and an appropriate official from the cooperating organization. An oral and written report will be required from the student upon completion of the project.

Skills for successful management projects that require development, design, construction and operation of chemical plants and related industries.

Study of commercial methods of plastic processing and product evaluation. Discussion of polymer extrusion, molding, and other modern methods. Analysis of these processes in the manufacturing context. Analysis of the role of processing in polymer recovery and recycling.

Drying: tray, belt, drum, spray, freeze drying, instantanizing, and agglomeration. Freezing and freeze concentration. Membrane processes: osmosis, reverse osmosis, ultrafiltration, electrodialysis. Extrusion. Expression. Microwave heating.

Practical experience in chemical engineering in cooperation with private industry or government to be jointly supervised by the academic department, the Co-op program coordinator, and an official from the cooperating organization. A written report will be required upon completion of each period of work.

Participation, under the supervision of a faculty member acting as an investigator, in a research project.

Statistical analysis of experimental data, curve fitting,and sampling theory; nomography; problem solving with digital computers. Emphasis is given to chemical engineering applications.

Analysis, design, and simulation of chemical processes and units using computer programs developed by students under guidance of a faculty member.

Modeling and analysis of vital functions in the human body by methods similar to those used to study the behavior of processing units in chemical plants, such as tracer techniques, microscopic and cell-scale mass and energy transfer, fluid mechanics of the circulatory system, and reactor kinetics applied to body systems.

Classification and extent of air pollution problems; meteorology and air pollution; dispersion from effluents; the effect of air pollution on plants and animals; visibility problems; socioeconomic impact of pollution problems analytical and experimental sampling methods; equipment and process for abating air pollution; governmental regulations for air pollution control.

A discussion of the theory, principles, and practices related to engineering control of particulate and gaseous emissions from natural, industrial, agricultural, commercial, and municipal sources of atmospheric pollution.

The minimization of industrial wastes through the proper Design and operation of manufacturing plants; treatment of disposal of industrial wastes, with emphasis on the chemical industries in Puerto Rico.

Principles of economic evaluation, cost estimation, mathematical techniques and process simulation as applied to chemical engineering design.

Application of the principles of economic evaluation, cost estimation, mathematical techniques, and simulation to the chemical engineering design of processes and/or equipment.

Mathematical simulation of chemical and physical processes. Analysis of first and second order systems; control modes; control hardware; roots locus and frequency response analysis; optimum control settings; applications to the design of control systems.

Discussion of the elements of microclimate in urban, rural, and valley environments. Dispersion of air pollutants in these environments.

The equilibrium stage concept is applied to the analysis and design of stage-wise separation processes, with application to distillation, gas absorption, and extraction. Multicomponent systems, computer methods, and practical aspects of design are studied.

Discussion of chemical engineering topics in which recent advances are particular striking.

Experimental studies on mass transfer, process control, fermentation, kinetics and catalysis using pilot plant equipment at the Unit Operations Laboratory.

Concepts of microbiology and biochemistry. Kinetics of enzyme-catalyzed reaction networks and immobilized enzyme systems; transport phenomena in microbial systems; biological reactor design and analysis; analysis of multiple interacting microbial populations.

Creation, characterization, separation and agglomeration of particles. Sizing fractionation of powders, surface area and pore size determinations. Pulverization, crystallization, agglomeration, tableting and granulation.

Study of principles of membrane separation processes such as: reverse osmosis, nanofiltration, ultrafiltration, microfiltration, dialysis, eltrodialysis, gas permeation and pervaporation. The study will cover mass transfer and the design and operational aspects for both liquid and gas separation system. The separation, purification, and recovery processes will be applied to the chemical, biochemical, and food industries.

Momentum, energy, and mass transport. Emphasis is given in the understanding of basic physical principles and their mathematical description.

Discussion of concepts, principles, and practices for the identification, evaluation, and control of chemical process hazards that can have occupational, community, or environmental effects. Emphasis on technical foundations, industry practices, and occupational and environmental laws and regulations.

Introduction to the application of traditional and innovative technologies for the treatment of hazardous wastes in water and soil. Discussion of aspects such as: environmental regulations, design and operating parameters and cost analysis. Use of computer software for the simulation and design of the different technologies.

Undergraduate research problems in chemical engineering or related field. Topics vary with interest of student and instructor. Open only to outstanding chemical engineering students.

Mathematical formulation and analysis of chemical engineering problems: application of linear algebra, vector analysis, and advanced ordinary differential equations.

Formulation and numerical analysis of chemicalengineering problems: application of partial differential equations, boundary value problems, orthogonal functions, and error analysis.

Analysis and design of batch and continuous chemical reactors for homogeneous, heterogeneous, catalytic and non-catalytic reactions; residence time distribution; influence of mass and heat transport on yield and product distributions; stability and optimization of reactors.

A study of modern numerical procedures suitable for digital computer simulations; principles of formulation of mathematical models, fundamental laws. Advanced analysis of momentum, energy, and mass transport in continuous media.

Application of optimization techniques to chemical engineering problems. Emphasis on minimum and maximum theory, geometric programming, linear programming, dynamic programming, and search techniques.

Study of techniques for the solution of complex systems of non-linear process equations as encountered in process design. Computer calculations appropriate for process design. Typical flow-sheet-type design programs. Study of optimization techniques.

Advanced analysis of momentum, energy and mass transport of continuous media. Analytical and numerical solutions to the equations of change, transport coefficients, boundary layer theory, relationship between microscopic and macroscopic balances, and dimensional analysis.

Application of phase equilibria to chemical engineering separation processes. Emphasis is given to multicomponent systems, particularly in distillation and absorption processes. Ideal and non-ideal mixtures, including azeotropic and extractive distillation. Design of separation equipments by analytical and numerical methods.

Advanced studies in heat transfer applied to chemical processes and equipment design.

A study of thermodynamics, emphasizing thermodynamic potential functions, fugacities in gas and liquid mixtures, thermodynamic properties, and phase equilibria.

A study of heterogeneous reactions, reaction rate, catalysis, activity and selectivity of catalytic agents, and surface chemistry; an analysis of industrial catalysts.

Application of advanced control techniques to chemical engineering processes. Emphasis on feedback/feedforward control, ratio control, multivariable process control, interacting control loops, and sampled-data systems.

Research presentation by graduate students and faculty members.

Advanced topics in biochemical engineering: kinetics of enzymatic reactions, transport phenomena in microbial systems, deviation from ideal flow patterns, design and analysis of biological reactors.

Comprehensive study of a specified chemical engineering problem selected so as to integrate the knowledge acquired in the graduate program of study. This project fulfills one of the terminal requirements of the Master of Engineering program, and will be governed by the norms established for this purpose.

Research in chemical engineering, and presentation of a thesis.

Study of the use of X-rays for the characterization of materials. Study of the fundamentals of space groups and the theory, applications, and experimental considerations of diverse techniques such as: single crystal and powder X-ray diffraction, small angle scattering, amorphous scattering, X-ray fluorescence, and X-ray absorption. Discussion of the relation between these techniques and other materials characterization techniques.

Study of concepts and applications in electrochemical engineering. Analysis of design equations and performance indicators in electrochemical reactors. Cost and operational optimization in electrochemical processes.

Investigations and special problems in chemical engineering.

Application of finite elements to the solution of differential equations governing distinct and practical problems in transport phenomena.

Turbulent momentum, heat and mass transport in the atmosphere. Modeling of atmospheric pollutants dispersion.

Special topics in transport phenomena and related areas.

A study of the flow systems in various chemical reactors involving multiphase transport processes associated with chemical reactions. Includes the study of: multiphase chemical reactors, types of flow systems, mathematical models applicable to chemical reactors, analytical and numerical optimization methods.

Selected topics in heterogeneous catalysis. Includes a catalyst design project or a seminar on recent research.

A study of the chemistry, microbiology and technology in fermentation processes in the food industry. Includes topics such as: kinetics of biological processes, optimal conditions for the design of fermentors, thermodynamic and stoichiometric limitations, and production of industrial microorganisms by genetic engineering processes.

Application of chemical engineering principles to drug therapy. Topics include: pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic concepts, design of therapeutic regiments, and the application of transport phenomena in the design and modeling of drug delivery devices.

Study of the principles and phenomena of surface adsorption of molecular scale materials. Design of nao-scale materials, including potential energy calculations considering the composition and surface geometry. Methods of adsorbent synthesis, adsorption techniques and methods for performance analysis, and simulation of molecular dynamics will also be included.

Study of the theory, fabrication techniques, and applications of metallic and magnetic nanoparticles. Topics include: synthesis and derivatization methods, physical and chemical properties, and particle-particle and particle surface interations.

Research and special problems in Chemical Engineering.

Oral presentations and discussions in areas of interest.

Development, preparation and defense of a thesis or dissertation based on an original research project in Chemical Engineering, which represents a significant contribution to the state of knowledge of this discipline.